Báo Đồng Nai•26/06/2026 |
| Patients take methadone to treat opioid addiction at Methadone Treatment Facility No. 1 under the Dong Nai Center for Disease Control. |
Methadone not only helps patients control their addiction, but also opens up opportunities for them to return to work, mend family relationships, and reintegrate into the community.
A lifeline for addicts.
Over 20 years ago, through hanging out with friends, Mr. NTS (from Ho Nai ward) gradually fell into the path of heroin use and became heavily addicted without realizing it. All the family's money disappeared, his parents were disgraced, and his wife and children left him in despair.
"Back then, after using drugs, I lost all sense of reality. All I could think about was how to get money to buy drugs. My family was shattered, and my health deteriorated. Despite numerous attempts at rehabilitation, both voluntary and compulsory, I still couldn't quit drugs," Mr. S recalled.
Knowing that many people had successfully quit drugs thanks to Methadone treatment, in 2020, Mr. S. went to Methadone Treatment Facility No. 1 under the Dong Nai Center for Disease Control (CDC) to register for treatment. In the beginning, his body hadn't adapted yet, so Mr. S. still occasionally used drugs, but the amount decreased significantly. When the Methadone dosage was adjusted appropriately, the withdrawal symptoms gradually disappeared, and the craving for heroin also vanished. Currently, Mr. S. has a stable job with an income of over 8 million VND/month, enough to cover his living expenses, and more importantly, he has rediscovered himself.
Mr. LTK (from Trang Dai ward) also fell into drug addiction because of peer pressure. He squandered all his earnings on drugs. "People say opium makes you stronger, yam makes you weaker, the more you use it, the higher the dose, you don't know when to stop, you don't know how much is enough, sometimes a few hundred thousand, sometimes a few million dong a day. When the money ran out, I borrowed from everywhere, accumulating debt. During withdrawal, my limbs ached, tears and snot flowed, my eyes were bloodshot, I was delirious, all I could think about was getting drugs, I couldn't care for my wife and children," Mr. K recalled.
Determined to turn his life around, in 2016, Mr. K. went to Methadone Treatment Center No. 1 to receive treatment for opioid addiction. After taking Methadone, Mr. K. no longer craved drugs. He found a job at a company, earning 6-7 million VND per month.
Dong Nai currently has over 800 patients undergoing methadone treatment for opioid addiction at 10 facilities, including: Dong Nai CDC (2 facilities in Trang Dai and Dong Xoai wards), and regional health centers in Bien Hoa, Long Thanh, Trang Bom, Thong Nhat, Vinh Cuu, Xuan Loc, Dinh Quan, and Long Khanh.
Many benefits
According to Dr. Vu Thi Ngoc, Head of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department (Dong Nai CDC), many addicts, when unable to afford heroin, switch to using methamphetamine. Prolonged use of synthetic drugs can lead to various mental disorders such as paranoia, hallucinations, behavioral disorders, and increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases. Since the implementation of the Methadone treatment program, the rate of HIV infection through intravenous drug use has decreased significantly compared to before.
According to Dr. Ngoc, drug addiction is a chronic disease. Therefore, Methadone treatment, like the treatment for hypertension or diabetes, requires long-term monitoring. After stopping the medication, patients still risk relapse if they lack determination or the support of their family and society.
Having worked at Methadone Treatment Center No. 1 for 12 years, medical officer Le Van Tuan has witnessed many patients gradually overcome drug addiction. "Many patients, after stabilizing their treatment, have found jobs and earned income to support themselves and their families. Although most only do menial jobs such as security guards, factory workers, or work in their family's production facilities, they all live by honest labor," shared medical officer Tuan.
According to physician Tuan, Methadone offers many practical benefits. First and foremost, it significantly reduces the economic burden. While a heroin addict might have to spend from several hundred thousand to several million dong per day to buy drugs, someone undergoing Methadone treatment only pays 7,000 dong per day for medication, with a total cost of just over 200,000 dong per month.
Methadone treatment not only helps patients reduce their dependence on heroin, but also contributes to limiting the risk of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other bloodborne diseases by eliminating the need for injection. Patients also receive psychological counseling and comprehensive healthcare, resulting in significant improvements in their physical and mental well-being. Many people share that after a period of treatment, they no longer crave heroin, and if they use it again, they no longer experience the same euphoric feelings as before.
"Through years of observation, I've noticed that patients who successfully complete their treatment all share a common trait: they receive love, encouragement, and motivation from their families. The time they spend taking medication at the medical facility each day is only about 2-3 minutes; they spend most of their time with their families and communities. If they live in a loving and understanding environment, they will have more motivation to quit drugs and maintain long-term treatment," emphasized physician Le Van Tuan.
Hanh Dung
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202606/lam-lai-cuoc-doi-nho-methadone-8f20174/
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