Vietnam PM Urges to Raise Methadone Use to Curb with Drug Addiction

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked 61 cities and provinces nationwide to raise the use of Methadone in drug addition treatment in 2014-2015 to reduce bad impacts on the society. The localities are asked to provide Methadone treatment to 30,850 drug addicts in 2014 and to 81,047 people in 2015 from the current 17,521, the government said on its website. Hanoi is required to fulfill the target of having 2,300 people treated with Methadone in 2014 and 8,500 in 2015, followed by Ho Chi Minh City with 2,280 in 2014 and 8,000 in 2015. Increasing the Methadone treatment is the most effective way in limiting consequences caused by drug addiction. So far, the Southeast Asian country has 182,790 drug addicts, representing an annual rise of 5%. Up to 76% of the drug addicts are below 35. (Quan Doi Nhan Dan June 25 p4, Chinhphu.vn June 24)