The head of Ho Chi Minh City's Psychological Hospital hasrecommended that drug addicts be given mental-health therapy after theycomplete detoxification services.
Dr. Trinh Tat Thang that addicts who are treated at ward and commune health centres are especially in need of such care.
Wardand commune health centres currently are only responsible foridentifying the level of addiction of each individual and suggesting adetox regimen. Addicts who have a more serious condition are treatedwith methadone.
Thang told a recent meeting on drug treatmentfor addicts at community-based health facilities that 40-60 percent ofaddicts have mental health problems. Those who use amphetamine-typestimulants often become depressed after their detox regimen concludes.
DongVan Ngoc, a representative from the municipal Department of Health'sMedical Affairs Division, said it is difficult to identify the severityof addiction because of the lack of qualified staff and facilities.
Forthis reason, the Psychological Hospital has opened short-termtraining courses for staff to improve basic knowledge about drugaddiction. It will also open more courses on drug testing,detoxification and recovery methods for addicts, Ngoc said.
Preventivehealth centres in HCM City ’s districts usually work with localauthorities to prepare facilities and staff for addicts who have legalresidence in the city.
A representative of a preventive healthcentre in Binh Thanh district said few addicts voluntarily go to wardand commune health centres for treatment because of the high costs.
Thefirst month of treatment costs 2.7 million VND (128 USD) and graduallyincreases to 3.4 million USD in the second month and 4.3 million USD inthe third month.
The city has also sent a group of members ofthe city's People's Council to check the admission of addicts without astable residence at three designated centres, namely Nhi Xuan Centre ofVocational Education and Employment in Hoc Mon district, Young PeopleVocational Training Centre No. 2 in the outlying district of Cu Chi andthe Binh Trieu Admission Centre of Addicts and Prostitutes in Binh Thanhdistrict.
The addicts are sent to these centres while they waitfor a court decision on whether they must enter a rehabilitation centre.At these centres, they receive detoxification and psychologicalcounseling services.
Nguyen Huu Tai, deputy head of the city'sSocial Evils Prevention Division under the Department of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs, said the city has identified 3,200 addictsand sent more than 1,800 people without a stable residence to the threecentres since December 5, 2014.
These centres, however, have haddifficulty in identifying the families of addicts, and 300 of them havehad to live at the centre for more than 30 days.
Under the law, they are allowed to stay for detox and counseling for no more than 30 days.
Taisaid that sending these addicts to the centres has helped ensure socialorder and reduced the number of homeless addicts.
Currently, the city has more than 19,000 addicts.-VNA
Dr. Trinh Tat Thang that addicts who are treated at ward and commune health centres are especially in need of such care.
Wardand commune health centres currently are only responsible foridentifying the level of addiction of each individual and suggesting adetox regimen. Addicts who have a more serious condition are treatedwith methadone.
Thang told a recent meeting on drug treatmentfor addicts at community-based health facilities that 40-60 percent ofaddicts have mental health problems. Those who use amphetamine-typestimulants often become depressed after their detox regimen concludes.
DongVan Ngoc, a representative from the municipal Department of Health'sMedical Affairs Division, said it is difficult to identify the severityof addiction because of the lack of qualified staff and facilities.
Forthis reason, the Psychological Hospital has opened short-termtraining courses for staff to improve basic knowledge about drugaddiction. It will also open more courses on drug testing,detoxification and recovery methods for addicts, Ngoc said.
Preventivehealth centres in HCM City ’s districts usually work with localauthorities to prepare facilities and staff for addicts who have legalresidence in the city.
A representative of a preventive healthcentre in Binh Thanh district said few addicts voluntarily go to wardand commune health centres for treatment because of the high costs.
Thefirst month of treatment costs 2.7 million VND (128 USD) and graduallyincreases to 3.4 million USD in the second month and 4.3 million USD inthe third month.
The city has also sent a group of members ofthe city's People's Council to check the admission of addicts without astable residence at three designated centres, namely Nhi Xuan Centre ofVocational Education and Employment in Hoc Mon district, Young PeopleVocational Training Centre No. 2 in the outlying district of Cu Chi andthe Binh Trieu Admission Centre of Addicts and Prostitutes in Binh Thanhdistrict.
The addicts are sent to these centres while they waitfor a court decision on whether they must enter a rehabilitation centre.At these centres, they receive detoxification and psychologicalcounseling services.
Nguyen Huu Tai, deputy head of the city'sSocial Evils Prevention Division under the Department of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs, said the city has identified 3,200 addictsand sent more than 1,800 people without a stable residence to the threecentres since December 5, 2014.
These centres, however, have haddifficulty in identifying the families of addicts, and 300 of them havehad to live at the centre for more than 30 days.
Under the law, they are allowed to stay for detox and counseling for no more than 30 days.
Taisaid that sending these addicts to the centres has helped ensure socialorder and reduced the number of homeless addicts.
Currently, the city has more than 19,000 addicts.-VNA
