Drug Users Present in Every Corner of Vietnam: Ministry

Drug users are now present in all 63 cities and provinces across Vietnam, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said in a report at the ongoing session of the National Assembly, the country’s highest legislative body. The country has more than 204,000 drug users with an annual average growth of 7%, the ministry said. As many as 76% of the drug users are below 35 years old and 60% of the total use drug for the first time at the age of 25, according to the report. Up to 72% of drug addicts use heroin while 14.5% use amphetamine. To curb the situation which is believed to cost the country hundreds of billions of dong per year, Vietnam applies mandatory rehab policies to some groups of drug users in total 150 rehabilitation centers across the country. Such a detoxification method has caught international protest. So far, the country has 31,000 drug users receiving methadone treatment, or only 15% of total drug addicts, leaving huge burdens on rehabilitation activities. (VnEconomy.vn Nov 10).