Vietnam will roll out methadone therapy to 80,000 drug users in 30cities and provinces nationwide by 2015 as pilot programmes haveconfirmed the efficacy of the medication as well as socio-economicbenefits.
Five years since the therapy was launched, thenation now has 61 methadone clinics in 20 cities and provinces, treatingaround 14,000 drug users with no fatality due to excessive medicationand unexpected side effects recorded.
After a 24-monthtreatment course, the percentage of patients, who are at high risk ofdepression, slid to 15 percent from 80 percent while a mere 1.3 percentcommit to legal violations, reported the HIV/AIDS Prevention and ControlDepartment of the Ministry of Health.
A heathministry-conducted survey on over 1,000 patients in clinics across HoChi Minh City and Hai Phong, which have piloted the treatment sinceApril, 2008, found 96 percent of them continue with the medication afterthe recommended treating course finishes while only 15.87 percentrelapse into bad habits. Up to 75.9 percent of them now get employed.
Statistics collected from three methadone clinics in Hai Phong,Can Tho and Da Nang unveil that monthly incomes of the detoxified peoplerise from 2.6 million VND (120 USD) to 3.2 million VND (150 millionUSD).
The medication has also saved over 1 trillion VND (47.6million USD) per year for 13,000 addicts in 11 cities and provinces as adrug user used to spend 230,000 VND (10.1 USD) on heroin, meaningnearly 84 million VND (4,000 USD) a year.
To reach the goal,the ministry is looking to spread the training of medical staff andtransfer technology to more treatment facilities in the time ahead.-VNA
Five years since the therapy was launched, thenation now has 61 methadone clinics in 20 cities and provinces, treatingaround 14,000 drug users with no fatality due to excessive medicationand unexpected side effects recorded.
After a 24-monthtreatment course, the percentage of patients, who are at high risk ofdepression, slid to 15 percent from 80 percent while a mere 1.3 percentcommit to legal violations, reported the HIV/AIDS Prevention and ControlDepartment of the Ministry of Health.
A heathministry-conducted survey on over 1,000 patients in clinics across HoChi Minh City and Hai Phong, which have piloted the treatment sinceApril, 2008, found 96 percent of them continue with the medication afterthe recommended treating course finishes while only 15.87 percentrelapse into bad habits. Up to 75.9 percent of them now get employed.
Statistics collected from three methadone clinics in Hai Phong,Can Tho and Da Nang unveil that monthly incomes of the detoxified peoplerise from 2.6 million VND (120 USD) to 3.2 million VND (150 millionUSD).
The medication has also saved over 1 trillion VND (47.6million USD) per year for 13,000 addicts in 11 cities and provinces as adrug user used to spend 230,000 VND (10.1 USD) on heroin, meaningnearly 84 million VND (4,000 USD) a year.
To reach the goal,the ministry is looking to spread the training of medical staff andtransfer technology to more treatment facilities in the time ahead.-VNA
