Nearly 53,000 drug users receive Methadone treatment
Nearly 53,000 drug users receive Methadone treatment to cure addiction
Nearly 53,000 drug users in Vietnam has received Methadone treatment to cure their addiction since the treatment was first piloted in Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong in April 2008.
Patients receive Methadone treatment in Bac Ninh province. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Nearly 53,000drug users in Vietnam has received Methadone treatment to cure their addiction sincethe treatment was first piloted in Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong in April2008.
Director of the Department of HIV/AIDSPrevention and Control under the Health Ministry Nguyen Hoang Long saidMethadone has become available in all 63 provinces and cities nationwide, with legaland technical regulations for the treatment completed.
Research projects conducted bythe Health Ministry and localities all showed that Methadone treatment hasreduced remarkably the use of drugs among patients. After 24 months, only 15.8percent of patients under Methadone still use heroin. The frequency of use alsodropped from 3-5 times a day before treatment to 2-3 times a month after 24months of treatment.
Besides, the Methadone therapyalso contributed to reducing the transmission of HIV through blood. The rate ofHIV infections among drug users decreased from 30 percent in 2001-2002 to 9.5percent in 2016.
The number of new HIV infectionseach year went down to 10,000 in 2015, from the 30,000 recorded in 2006 and2007.
The provision of Methadonetreatment will be expanded in the time ahead, focusing on localities with manydrug users and HIV/AIDS patients, while the quality of services will beimproved and information technology will be used to manage patients intreatment, the Health Ministry said./.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed relevant ministries and agencies to improve the efficiency of a programme to treat drug addiction by methadone therapy.
The Government has gradually reduced the number of compulsory drug rehabilitation centres and increased community or family-based recovery support models.
Due to the reduction in international funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and control, the private sector is expected to get more involved in providing treatment opportunities for people living with the virus, contributing to putting an end to the epidemic by 2030.
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Patients receive Methadone treatment in Bac Ninh province. (Photo: VNA) 
