(ĐN)- Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Tri of People’s Committee on October 28 presided over a meeting to adopt implementation plan of the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program in the 2013-2015 period.
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(ĐN)- Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Tri of People’s Committee on October 28 presided over a meeting to adopt implementation plan of the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program in the 2013-2015 period.
Accordingly, two methadone clinics will be opened at the provincial HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre and Bien Hoa city General Hospital in early 2014 to treat around 400 intravenous drug users.
The program also aims to raise the public awareness of the purpose as well as the effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment.
Dong Nai is one of the ten localities in the country that have highest HIV infection rate.As of May 2013, the province has reported 6,228 new HIV infections, over 2,400 of whom have developed full-blown AIDS while more than 2,300 drug users were recorded in this period.
Methadone is a mildly addictive drug mainly used to stop drug users’ habit of using heroin, morphine, and similar addictive substances.
Proper doses of methadone under the supervision of medical staff can also help patients reduce the harmful effects of heroin, prevent HIV transmission via injection, and decrease the number of deaths due to drug shock.
The therapy also helps improve patients' health and living quality significantly.
Reported by P.L
