Ministry of Health issues guidance to manage synthetic drug abusers

Drug addicts at a detoxification establishment in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) - The Ministry of Health has issued specific guidelines on intervention to manage synthetic drugs abusers amid an increase in synthetic drug use in the country.

The guidance includes overview of synthetic drugs, screening, diagnosis, interventional measures based on psychology and behaviours, and treatment of mental disorders.

The ministry said social assistance should be provided in the community for synthetic drugs abusers.

According to Le Duc Hien, deputy head of the Department of Prevention for Social Evils under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the abuse of synthetic drugs is rising, posing challenges to drug detoxification work.

At a press briefing on March 15, Hien said there are 225,089 drug addicts known to authorities in the country, of whom between 60-70 use synthetic drugs.

The rate even surpasses 90 percent in some localities, such as An Giang, Binh Phuoc and Hau Giang.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health at Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital, psychological problems among synthetic drugs include paranoia, hallucinations  and depression. – VNA