"Wat Thamkrabok absolutely changed my life," said the 38-year-old Turkish German - now known as Monk Atalo - who came to the monastery 14 years ago and has returned several times to pray and meditate.
"My job was really stressful and I was a slave of Western high-performance society," said Atalo, who hopes to write a book about his experiences. Like others interviewed for this story, he declined to provide his surname.
Wat Thamkrabok, 140 km (87 miles) north of Bangkok, has treated more than 110,000 people since it started its programme in 1959, the monastery says.
"Here we have a particular way to practice Buddhism, and it fits very well into the treatment of drug addiction," said Monk Jeremy, a 37-year-old Australian who underwent treatment at the monastery three years ago for heroin addiction.
Monk Jeremy attends an ordination ceremony of new monks at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand.
Treatment begins with a "Sajja" ceremony in which patients take a sacred vow never to use drugs again.
Patients then drink, for at least five days in a row, a strong herbal medicine that induces vomiting.
Vomiting is followed by a daily herbal steam bath to aid the detoxification process.
Patients react after drinking a vomit-inducing medication made with plants and roots at the rehabilitation and detox area at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand.
No contact with the outside world is permitted during the first five days of treatment. Patients pass the time by meditating, playing table tennis and weightlifting, and manual work such as painting and making Buddha statues.
Some experts have questioned the effectiveness of Wat Thamkrabok's methods.
"I cannot advocate for that type of treatment because there is absolutely no sound evidence nor research behind it," said Brian Russman, clinical director of The Cabin, a drug rehabilitation centre in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
Nat, in her fourth week of treatment, said she was afraid to leave the temple for fear of a relapse. The 24-year-old from northeast Thailand started using methamphetamines two years ago to stay awake during her night job as a go-go dancer in Bangkok.
"I can't leave until I recover my self-confidence. The only job I have is at the bar and I need to go back to it," said Nat, whose 7-year-old daughter lives in the countryside with her grandmother.
Henry, a 37-year-old heroin addict from Britain, came to Wat Thamkrabok after trying several traditional rehab clinics.
"For many of us here, this is our last chance," he said.
A patient enters a steam bath at the rehabilitation area at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand.
Turkish-German patient Cengiz steam bathes two days before his ordination as a Buddhist monk, at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand.
Patients take a cool shower after having a steam bath at the rehabilitation area at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand.
Patients play music at the rehabilitation and detox program at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand.
Jeremy, a Buddhist monk from Australia, inspects a Buddha statue at a workshop at the rehabilitation and detox area at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand, February 3, 2017. Jeremy underwent treatment at the monastery three years ago for heroin addiction.
Patients play ping-pong at the rehabilitation and detox area at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand,
A Buddhist monk prays after throwing food to fish and turtles at a lake inside Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province in Thailand.
Patients walk to take a steam bath at the rehabilitation and detox area at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand.
Turkish-German patient Cengiz (R) and monk Jeremy from Australia meditate at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province in Thailand.
Turkish-German patient Cengiz (C), now monk Atalo, walks after his ordination ceremony at Wat Thamkrabok monastery in Saraburi province, Thailand.
