Runaway addicts return to rehab centre in Dong Nai

Authorities in Dong Nai return the escapees to the drug rehab centre (Photo: VNA)

Dong Nai (VNA) – More than 400 drug addicts have returned to the rehabilitation centre where they were receiving treatment one day after breaking out of the facility on October 23.

At a meeting of local agencies on October 24 afternoon, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Ho Van Loc reported that as of 17:00pm on October 24, 406 runaways had returned to the centre, while around 160 others were still at large.

Loc said the overload at the centre was among reasons why the addicts wanted to get out. Many of them were stressed out by treatment and the cramped conditions. According to Loc, the centre was designed to accommodate 800 people, but at present it is providing treatment to nearly 1,500 addicts.

Besides, a number of new arrivals had incited the addicts to escape from the facility.

Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Hoa Hiep said the province will provide funding to repair infrastructure in the centre. In the long term, the province will invest 15 billion VND to expand and upgrade the facility to improve the living and treatment conditions for the inmates.

At around 22:30 pm on October 23, more than 560 inmates at the rehab centre escaped from the facility. Many ran on National Highway 1A, blocking the traffic and causing apprehension among local residents.
However, there have been no reports on the runaways engaging in robbery or rioting.-VNA