Hà Nội to raise spending on drug-addiction treatments

March 20, 2016 - 09:00

Some VND36 billion (US$1.6 million) will be spent on methadone treatment for drug addicts to improve efficiency and further develop this treatment method, officials said.

Only 3,730 drug addicts have been treated with methadone in Hà Nội. – Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

HÀ NỘI (VNS) — Some VNĐ36 billion (US$1.6 million) will be spent on methadone treatment for drug addicts to improve efficiency and further develop this treatment method, officials said.

The Hà Nội People’s Committee also decided to add more staff to methadone treatment centres for drug addiction, Lê Nhân Tuấn, Director of the Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, said.

The city failed to meet the target set by the Prime Minister, he said.

Only 3,730 of the city’s 8,500 addicts had been treated with methadone, accounting for 43 per cent of the target.

The failure to meet the target was attributed to the shortage of human resources and allowances for staff working in these treatment centres, Tuấn said.

There are 17 centres treating drug addicts with methadone in Hà Nội.

To improve the reach of the drug treatment, the city has organised training courses for treatment centres and has raised public awareness of methadone treatments for drug addiction. — VNS

 

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