It now has seven clinics providing methadone therapy for approximately 1,700 addicts, equivalent to only 8% of the total. It sets a target of having 8,500 people treated with methadone in 2015.
Methadone can alleviate the symptoms of opium withdrawal. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been applied in more than 80 countries and territories for years, benefiting over 1 million drug users.
In 2008, the programme was initially piloted in Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City in 2008, and then expanded to 32 cities and provinces across the nation, with more than 17,500 patients being treated in 92 clinics.
After a 12-month treatment course, the percentage of patients at high risk of depression fell to 15% from 80%.
The Ministry of Health, the crime rate among drug users sank to 1.3% from 40.8%.
