A medical worker monitors drug addicts' use of Methadone therapy (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The model of detoxification for drug addicts in family and community has proved to be effective after one year of implementation in Ho Chi Minh City, the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs reported on October 14.
Currently, the city has nearly 12,000 drug addicts with stable residence, 2,277 of whom are engaging in the model, including 905 people voluntarily taking detoxification treatment in their family, according to the department.
The city has set up 52 consultation posts in 16 out of its 24 districts, which have given advice to more than 4,580 drug addicts.
Localities across the city reported they have received back 3,750 former addicts, and helped 2,430 of them find jobs with stable income.
However, localities also pointed to a number of difficulties during the implementation of the model, including lack of cooperation from addicts’ families and a high risk of relapsing.
Tran Ngoc Du from the Sub-Department for Social Evil Prevention, added that most localities do not yet to have standardized facilities to treat withdrawal symptoms.
In the coming time, the city plans to diversify communications on drug detoxification while working with districts to maintain and expand the consultation posts in major hot spots, he said.-VNA
