The Government will subsidise a health programme using methadone therapy to treat approximately 6,000 drug addicts across northern Son La province through 2020.

(Photo for illustration: suckhoedoisong.vn)

The province seeks to gradually curb reliance on current drugs with methadone. Within 2015, 18 new medical facilities will be established for methadone treatment and distribution, while free drugs will be delivered to healthcare units in Yen Chau, Quynh Nhai, Bac Yen, Phu Yen, and Sop Cop districts.

According to Dam Van Huong, Head of the Son La Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention, local addicts will be able to receive free treatment under the sponsorship of a global fund for preventing and curbing the addiction.

If they correctly follow the treatment process, it will accelerate the patients’ rehabilitation, he said.

Statistically, only 665 out of 7,763 drug abusers in Son La have accessed the therapy thus far.

Source: VNA