Only 15% of Vietnam Drug Addicts Get Methadone Treatment

Vietnam has 31,000 drug users receiving methadone treatment, or only 15% of total drug addicts, leaving huge burdens on rehabilitation activities that cost the country hundreds of billions of dong per year. The treatment is carried out in 170 medical stations in 46 cities and provinces across the nation since the first launch in 2008, meeting 38% of the target set for the 2008-2015 period by the Ministry of Health. The number of drug users quadrupled over the past two decades, presenting in all cities and provinces nationwide. As many as 74% of drug users age between 18 and 35 years. Up to 72% of drug addicts use heroin while 14.5% use amphetamine. Vietnam has about 150 rehabilitation centers, including 123 under the state’s control. The country maintains mandatory rehab policies to some groups of people. Such a detoxification method has caught the international protest. UN Special Rapporteur Anand Grover said in his report in 2012 that the method is expensive, ineffective and counterproductive. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te Vietnam – Vietnam Economic Times July 23 p3, Tuoitre.vn July 22)