VGP – Methadone treatment has been appreciated following its efficacy on 13,838 patients at 61 treatment units in 20 provinces in the first half of this year.
The rate of drug addicts, who have been helped to kick off their bad habits with methadone in two years, violating laws has decreased remarkably from 40.8% to 1.34% and that of family trouble-makers has dropped to 2.27% from 90.36%, said Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long at an online conference in Ha Noi on July 8 to review AIDS, drug and prostitution prevention work in the past six months.
Notably, the crime rate in the northern coastal city of Hai Phong, which is among the localities pioneering Methadone treatment programme for drug users, has decreased by 70%, heard the conference.
After the treatment, 75.9% patients can get jobs to support their families. The previous rate was 64%.
According to relevant agencies, the average Methadone cost per patient per day is VND15,500, which is really economical compared to VND230,000 that an addict spends heroin each day.
Thirty-six provinces and cities are to implement the Methadone treatment programme. However, the supply of Methadone is depending largely on the donors.
According to the Ministry of Health, the number of new HIV-infected people decreased by 32% while those of AIDS patients and due-to-AIDS deaths have fallen by 50% and 49% respectively./.
By Ngoc Van
Đăng ký: VietNam News
