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FYI
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Alumni Update
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Blog
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Greetings from The Cabin
We’d like to reassure everybody that, contrary to the disconcerting news reports on the political situation in Thailand, life here in Chiang Mai is carrying on as usual with all safe and sound . In fact we were hard at work producing our new Alumni Community site - and are happy to announce that it is now up and running.
In this issue, we’d like to bring to light a serious addiction concern that does not get as much attention as it deserves. We have put our FOCUS on the ever-increasing issue with sugar and food addiction, which can lead to serious health complications, and which we adeptly treat here at The Cabin.
We have also featured one of our more high octane weekly excursions to the zip-lining facility here in Chiang Mai; and three of our alumni have generously shared with us updates on their progress in recovery – which are always well received.
We sincerely hope you enjoy the contents of this newsletter, and we always welcome comments and suggestions. Please email us at:newsletter@thecabinchiangmai.com
The Cabin Team |
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FOCUS: Is Sugar as Addictive and Harmful as Cocaine? Studies say “YES”!
by Alastair Mordey, Programme Director at The Cabin Chiang Mai 
When a person is standing outside their office on a cigarette break, it is clear that the person is addicted to cigarettes. When a person regularly consumes two desserts, and perhaps some sweets throughout the day, that person is said to have a “sweet-tooth”. However, more and more research over the past few years has confirmed that sugar addiction is a very real issue. And, sugar addiction, which is the root of food addiction, can be just as harmful to the body as a drug, tobacco, or alcohol addiction.
A 2013 study on lab rats at Connecticut College, found that rats were just as likely to over-indulge on high-fat, high-sugar Oreos, as they were to over-indulge on the drugs morphine or cocaine. In both cases, researchers tested the levels of a protein called c-Fos, which is a known marker of neuronal activation in the part of the brain that controls pleasure. After eating Oreos, c-Fos levels were significantly higher than in the rats who had taken either morphine or cocaine. Researchers believe that this is strong evidence to the case that “high-fat/high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way that drugs do”, which does make biological sense. Read more
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In the Spotlight - new Alumni Community website
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Maintaining one’s recovery after getting clean is and should be the number one priority of all addicts – and providing clients the means to do so is and should be an obligation of all high quality treatment centres.
To this end we have spent the past few months improving and upgrading our Aftercare service. It now includes a new Cabin Alumni Community website exclusively for former client use. Password protected, the new site features a variety of sections, such as a library with numerous aftercare and relapse prevention resources. More importantly it offers several channels for Cabin alumni and staff to continue to interact and support each other – both online, and in person through our unique Global Peer Support Network. Click here to find out more. |
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The Cabin Highlights
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| China Meetings In April our directors spent an extremely constructive time exchanging information with the mental-health care communities in Shanghai and Beijing |
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| AA Anniversary Psychologist Cameron Brown, our Aftercare Provider in Australia was invited to speak on The Cabin’s secularised version of the 12 Steps at AA’s 79th anniversary event in Melbourne. |
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| Singapore & Malaysia Meetings In June the clinical team met up with leading, local, addiction treatment professionals to assess the best options for addicts |
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| The Cabin parties Clients and staff look forward to our monthly shindigs – for the fun and games as well as the delicious food. |
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Mark your Calendar
 August
India Roadshow
One-on-one Meetings with Programme Director Alastair Mordey
Cities:
Bombay (Dates TBC)
New Delhi (Dates TBC)
October 2-6
16th International Society of Addiction Medicine Annual Meeting (ISAM)
Venue: Paciļ¬co Yokohama Conference Center in Yokohama, Japan
For more information or to attend
any of these events email:
meetings@thecabinchiangmai.com
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Around Chiang Mai with The Cabin
For our more adventurous clients, Sunday excursions can mean the opportunity to spend a morning whizzing through dense evergreen jungle 80 metres above the ground - punctuated with bouts of rope ladder climbing, bamboo bridge crossing and other similar balancing acts. This adrenalin pumping activity, during which the person is connected only to a cable suspended high above the ground, is known as zip lining. Read more
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Alumni Update - past clients share their recovery progress
Even though some 900 clients have successfully completed treatment with us since we began operations in 2009, we still keep in touch with all of them and follow their progress – both through The Cabin’s Online Video Aftercare Programme and, more informally, through the personal relationships that our counsellors have built with many of their clients. When a client leaves The Cabin they are just embarking on their journey of recovery, certain to be filled with challenges and temptations as they begin their new life back home. Here we’d like to share some updates from our alumni. |
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Linda, Singapore, Graduated 30th January 2014
So far I have been out of The Cabin for almost 7 months. I was quite excited at the beginning, thinking I could have my freedom back. But the feeling of excitement didn't last long. The first 2 weeks was a bit tough for me. Read more
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Deepak, Calcutta, Graduated January 2013
“I am well settled back in my day to day life but with some corrections and also mindful of the fact that I am an alcoholic and this life is more about recovery than anything else.” Read more
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Jeanne, Washington, Graduated September 2013
It’s been more than nine months since I left The Cabin and I’m still sober and doing fine. I relocated with my partner who doesn't drink. Read more |
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Peer support is an extremely important part of the recovery process – if you’d like to share your progress with us and your Cabin Class write to us at newsletter@thecabinchiangmai.com or email your counsellor. |
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