Vietnam to Close Half of Compulsory Drug Rehab Centers by 2020

Vietnam will remove nearly half of compulsory drug rehabilitation centers by 2020 to replace this kind of facility with voluntary treatment stations which will partly receive investment from the private sector. Under a decision signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnam will run 71 compulsory centers by 2020 to accommodate roughly 20,000 people and shift 52 other facilities to stations offering voluntary detox treatment. In addition, the government will build 30 centers that receive funding from the private sector by the year. The move is aimed at providing treatment to about 200,000 drug users, meeting 80% of the total drug users nationwide. 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. Vietnam has about 150 rehabilitation centers, including 123 under the state’s control. The country maintains mandatory rehab policies to some groups of people. Compulsory rehab centers have caught mixed review both supporting and protesting the state’s model, saying that the obligatory treatment is draconian. UN Special Rapporteur Anand Grover said in his report in 2012 that the method is expensive, ineffective and counterproductive. (Bacgiang.gov.vn Aug 25, Vietnamplus.vn Aug 25)