Society

Over 31,000 patients receive methadone treatment

As many as 31,162 patients are receiving methadone treatments nationwide, up 6,621 patients from the end of 2014 and reaching 38 percent of the target, according to the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control under the Ministry of Health (MoH).
As many as 31,162 patients are receiving methadone treatmentsnationwide, up 6,621 patients from the end of 2014 and reaching 38percent of the target, according to the Vietnam Administration ofHIV/AIDS Control under the Ministry of Health (MoH).

To date, 46 provinces and cities have implemented methadone treatments in 170 clinics .

However, the methadone treatment programme in several localities isfacing difficulties including personnel issues, unfavourableadministrative formalities, a shortage of human resources and a lack offunding.

To deal with the obstacles, the MoH has mobilisedresources for infrastructure, equipment, personnel and expenditures toexpand methadone treatment availability.

Since 2013, the ministry has purchased methadone drugs produced domestically at a lower price than imported treatments.

The methadone treatment programme was initially piloted in Hai Phongand Ho Chi Minh City in 2008 and then expanded to a national scale.

Aftera 12-month treatment course, the percentage of patients at a high riskof depression drops to 15 percent from 80 percent. Many gain weight andsee their physical and mental health stabilise. Meanwhile, the crimerate amongst drug users sinks to 1.3 percent from 40.8 percent,according to the Ministry of Health.-VNA
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