Hanoi (VNA) – Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed relevant ministries and agencies to improve theefficiency of a programme to treat drug addiction by methadone therapy.

The programme, implemented by the Ministryof Health (MoH), reaped positive results after 10 years and received praises fromthe international community.

Accordingly, the system of legal documents,mechanisms, policies and instructions for addiction treatment by the therapy ismostly completed, reducing the number of drug addicts, law violations and HIV infections.

In addition, it has helped to improvepatients’ health and raise their living conditions, thus ensuring social orderand safety.

However, the programme’s implementationfaces various difficulties, particularly in human resources, discriminationtowards drug addicts and communication work to call for their participation inthe programme.

To maintain and raise the programme’seffectiveness, the MoH has been asked to cooperate with the Ministry of PublicSecurity; the Ministry of Justice; and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids andSocial Affairs (MoLISA) to propose amendments and supplements to regulations onrehabilitation and treatment for drug addicts, as well as step up monitoring ofand support for relevant agencies in the programme’s implementation.

The Health Ministry has also been requiredto enhance information technology application in the programme’s activities andprovide related documents and information to media agencies.

Meanwhile, authorities in provinces andcities nationwide have been tasked with ensuring facilities and resources forthe programme and bolstering communication work in localities.

According to the MoLISA, there are about 222,580 drug addicts nationwide, most of them under 35. Of that, 8 percent started using drugs when they were adolescents.-VNA