KOTA KINABALU: A REHABILITATION centre the likes of the famous Betty Ford clinic in the United States opened its doors in Kota Kinabalu, ready to take in a clientele that may include the world’s rich and famous.
It is the kind of place that would not seem out of place in Tinseltown where celebrities, young and old, seek addiction treatment.
And as a forerunner in the country’s tourism industry, Sabah has taken it up a notch by opening the country’s first “rehab centre”, a word usually seen in foreign tabloids and usually linked to Hollywood stars with addiction issues.
The Solace has started operations at an undisclosed location just 15 minutes from the Kota Kinabalu Airport.
Its chief executive officer and clinical director, Prem Kumar Shanmugam, said the private centre had “the most scientific-based programme in the region”.
“We have trained professionals in addiction science from around the world. We have 15 counsellors and therapists, and 10 recovery support coaches.”
The resort-like centre is said to have clientele that include celebrities and public figures from around the world.
Located away from prying eyes, the centre ensures confidentiality and the privacy of guests is maintained.
“It’s a secret location. Even if you drive past, you won’t find it,” said Prem Kumar.
To make the experience as comfortable as possible for their clients, he said the centre had a guest affairs department that handled everything from visa to airline ticketing.
“Everything from visa to tickets and landing and lodging for the family are handled by our staff. We pick our guests up at the airport with no signboards.”
The Solace currently operates from a mansion, with a bigger main facility, a 50-bed centre, situated on 3.2ha of land that would be operational soon.
It provides treatment for chemical addictions such as drugs, and behavioural addictions, such as gambling as well as depression and stress.
Prem Kumar described addiction as “a disease of the reward system”.
“The difference of someone who has an addiction problem is that he has a poor functioning reward system. To get the ‘reward’, they sometimes get hooked on substances or behavioural addictions (such as gambling).”
The centre has an extensive after-care programme. The programme works with clinics around the world in cities like Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Mumbai and Macau.
Prem Kumar said the cost of a stay at The Solace, established with the backing of local businessman Datuk Dr Ghulam Mohd Sayeed, was about US$20,000 (RM64,500) a month.