HCMC opens fourth methadone clinic for drug addicts

By Dao Loan - The Saigon Times Daily   Hua Ngoc Thuan (R ), vice chairman of the HCMC government, and Le Thanh An (L), U.S. general consul in HCMC, talk with a patient at the Methadone Treatment Clinic in Thu Duc District upon the opening of the drug detoxification center on Tuesday - Photo: Dao Loan HCMC – A methadone treatment clinic was officially opened on Tuesday in HCMC’s Thu Duc District as a free drug detoxification center for drug addicts in the locality. The clinic, the fourth one of its type in the city, is providing methadone treatment for around 250 people. Since Tuesday of last week, 18 drug addicts have come to the clinic everyday for free treatment. District authorities said at the opening ceremony that the clinic was funded by the Government and foreign sponsors. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. has been sponsoring the pilot methadone program in the district between April and September. Le Thanh An, U.S. general consul in HCMC, said methadone is one of the most effective treatments for heroin dependent people, many of them being HIV-positive. An said an estimated 30% of HIV infections worldwide are related to drug use and related behaviors. “The operations of the clinic will make a positive change in the lives of many Vietnamese citizens who are addicted to heroin, as well as their families, friends, and communities,” he said. Hua Ngoc Thuan, vice chairman of the HCMC government, said methadone has proved a good treatment for drug addicts given results from the three methadone clinics in districts 4, 6 and Binh Thanh. The city government is working on a plan to expand the clinic system to other districts. “We will open one more clinic in District 8 late this year. Other clinics will also be opened in Binh Tan, Binh Chanh, Tan Binh, and Tan Phu next year with the budget from the city government and international sponsors,” he told the Daily.