VN steps up methadone treatment for drug users
VGP – The Government lately allowed the Ministry of Health (MoH) to implement the Program on production and use of methadone in Việt Nam in the period of 2010-2015.
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Deputy PM Trương Vĩnh Trọng, Chairman of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention and Control, requested the MoH to conduct pilot projects in 10 cities and provinces between 2010 and 2012.
Based on results of the implementation in the first stage, the MoH will map out specific plans to conduct the second stage in the period of 2013 to 2015.
The MoH will be in charge of selecting one or two enterprises to import and produce Methadone for domestic consumption.
The Government estimates that there are around 150,000 drug users, accounting for 0.5% of the population in Việt Nam.
Initial success was made in piloting methadone for more than 1,700 drug users in Hải Phòng and Hồ Chí Minh City.
By 2015, the MoH targets to provide methadone treatment to 80,000 drug addicts./.
By Kim Anh
