During the height of Covid the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Chang Mai Thailand had one of it’s members struggling, this Veteran was in the midst of serious addiction and needed help. They got on the phone to one of the best treatment facilities in the world, Miracles Asia in Phuket. The first issue is and always will be: Money, Money Money because 5 Star Recovery Retreats ain’t cheap.
The VFW commander let the addiction team know about how they get their general healthcare here in Thailand, through the Foreign Medical Program of the VA. They investigated and discovered working with the VA that the program could be covered with no out of pocket cost to this Veteran. The VFW put this Vet on a plane, he got detoxed, sober, pulled back from the brink and saved.
Veteran Addiction
I write about Veterans abroad because of two main reasons. The first was because what moving abroad did for my mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. The second reason is because nobody else was. A lot of Vets had no clue we can get our benefits abroad, get our compensation overseas and live more peaceful lives.
“This is a lifesaving resource for American Veterans. The obstacle is that it’s a few thousand miles away but if you want addiction recovery….If you really want it – It’s here”
I was contacted by a fellow Veteran about her experience and treatment at Miracles Asia and wanted to find out more. I’ve struggled with addiction and I know plenty of Veterans are out there battling that demon every hour of every day. It’s commonplace to turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism for Military PTSD.
More than 1 in 5 Veterans with PTSD also deal with substance abuse disorders with alcoholism being the biggest culprit. I probably don’t need to tell you this but Veterans are more likely to suffer from alcoholism and prescription drug abuse than your average Joe civilian. Shocker right?
The military doesn’t take it easy on the mind, body, or soul. Often when we exit the military, that’s when our battles truly begin. I started first abusing the pills the VA gave me when I was struggling with PTSD, then I started washing them down with whiskey and things went downhill from there.
Veteran addiction is something that contributes to the 20+ Veterans that kill themselves every day. Many of our brothers and sisters who lost that battle sought treatment that didn’t work. I believe firmly that retreat based therapy, where you can separate yourself from your environment and really reflect, process, heal and grow is the best option.
It’s important that I let service-connected addicted Veterans know that you can come over here and do a 30, 60 or even 90 day treatment program for little to nothing out of pocket other than the plane ticket to Phuket, Thailand. Yes, for real.
My Visit
The Miracles Asia campus feels more like a small resort than a treatment center. Over here Veterans are getting the treatment we deserve, with compassion. Miracles Asia has the highest success rate of all addiction centers in Asia and 85% of long-term guests remain in active recovery. They treat addictions to in a beautiful, natural, healing environment.
“Miracles Asia is the only place in the entire world, to my knowledge that offers this level of care, in a 5 Star Addiction Resort setting for Veterans at no cost to the Veteran. If coming to Thailand to you to work on your addiction sounds crazy, then good. Maybe you need crazy.”
An Average Monday at Miracles Asia
- Yoga Or Beach Walk: 0630-0730
- Breakfast: 0730-0815
- Morning Check In/Meeting: 0830-0900
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: 1030-1115
- Holistic Therapy: 1140-1230
- Lunch
- Afternoon: Massage Trip or Free Time or Gym
- Dinner 1800-1845
- Evening Miracles Meeting 1900-2000
A Veteran Addiction Story (Mike)
My alcoholism and drug addiction nearly killed me; I experienced very clear suicidal ideation on a daily basis and felt no hope of finding joy in any area of my life.
During one of my hospital visits, I found myself in the Intensive Care Unit talking with a Vet who introduced me to Miracles Asia.
At the time, it felt like a mistake when they explained I qualified to receive in-patient care for substance use disorders related to PTSD, for which I have a service-connected disability rating.
“Within a few days, I was on a plane, flying to Thailand for my 90-day program at Miracles Asia, and those three months saved my life. There is no other way to say it.”
I learned invaluable information and skills that have become built-in habits, which I’ve been able to take home to America. These are all practical, realistic things I use daily to keep me mentally, physically, and spiritually fit. Michael’s Full Story
John’s Thoughts
Be willing to look for options outside of your comfort zone. Especially if you’ve done other treatments and those treatments maybe fell short, or you weren’t ready for sobriety, or whatever you did just didn’t take.
- You get your own private room and every room has a beautiful pool right outside.
- The food at the facility is amazing.
- Laundry is on site and the wi-fi works really well.
- Every room has a flatscreen smart TV.
- The treatment staff is mainly Europeans – The facility staff and hospitality team are Thai. Everything is done in English, so no language barriers.
- There is a small gym on site but three days a week they go to Thanyapura which is an absolute world class sport facility where Olympians train. They have all the gym equipment a fitness person could need, saunas, cold plunge, free weights, tracks, pools, classes, etc.
Next Step
Check out their Veteran Section of their website, contact them and if it works out…get your ass on a plane to Thailand. Here they are treating addiction holistically and importantly, seriously. This is a place to come if you’re committed to sobriety. I’ve found Veterans don’t respond much to half measures.
Thailand is an absolutely beautiful place, it’s a spiritual place. I’ve always felt Veteran addiction and PTSD are as much spiritual battles as they are mental health ones. The Thai people are extremely kind, welcoming and prioritize respect. Which I think is one reason why so many Veterans live here.
Contacts and Resources
You can see Miracles on Instagram and Facebook, Check out the stories, look at yourself in the mirror and put some serious thought into your recovery. If you have any questions from a Veteran perspective, they have Veterans on staff that can speak with you and they can put you in touch with Veterans who have completed the program or here.
If you’re a fellow Veteran interested in moving abroad, check out my book – Veterans in Paradise or hit me up on Instagram or TikTok to get the Quickstart Guide For Vets Moving Overseas.
Thank you for your service, if you have any questions on Miracles, the admission process or just want to explore it as an option:
info@miraclesasia.com or contact them through their website. Tell’em John sent ya and you’re ready to get your shit together.