A place to revive a life of mistakes.

NDO - Immediately after taking over the state management functions regarding drug addiction treatment and post-treatment management from the Provincial Department of Internal Affairs, the Yen Bai Provincial Police quickly began its new work, continuing to maintain normal operations without interruption, ensuring the rights and policies for trainees. Emphasis was placed on healthcare and vocational training for the trainees.

The Yen Bai Provincial Drug Rehabilitation Center, located in Yen Binh town, Yen Binh district, currently manages over 920 trainees (including 24 women).

Since March 1st, following the handover from the Provincial Department of Internal Affairs, the Drug Crime Investigation Department of the Provincial Police has maintained stable and safe operations at the facility. After completing detoxification treatment, the trainees at the drug rehabilitation center are now working diligently and complying well with all the facility's rules and regulations.

The motorboat carrying us glided across Thac Ba Lake, heading towards the "Rehabilitation" Island, a journey that took about 20 minutes before docking at Area A. Several trainees were already waiting, carrying beans, eggs, meat, ham... fresh food items that would provide the trainees with two main meals a day, back to the kitchen.

Amidst the vibrant yellow blossoms of the bougainvillea, Nguyen Van Ngoc, a trainee at the drug rehabilitation center, shared: "Since the police took over, the officers and soldiers have encouraged and helped us a great deal, creating opportunities for us to learn a trade so that when we return to our hometowns, we can find jobs and quickly reintegrate into normal life."

We spoke with Nguyen Thanh Tung, born in 1988, who has been using drugs since 2008, served 48 months in prison, relapsed two years after his release, and is now in a rehabilitation center for 15 months.

Tung said that here he is guaranteed a food allowance of over 60,000 VND per day, higher than that of officials, and he also gets to grow his own vegetables, so his health is well-maintained. Looking towards the mainland in the distance, Tung longs for the day he can return to his wife and 11-year-old daughter, find a job, and earn an income to rebuild his life.

Trainees learning electronics repair. (Photo: THANH SON)

To avoid disrupting drug rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation management, immediately after being assigned to their duties, 16 officers from the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department quickly approached and deployed their tasks, coordinating closely with the former staff of the facility to continue receiving and classifying trainees, providing detoxification treatment, vocational education , training, organizing productive labor, and facilitating community reintegration.

Always prioritize ensuring the rights and policies for trainees undergoing rehabilitation, especially in the areas of management, education, care, and treatment.

Lieutenant Hoang Thi Yen, a medical officer at the facility, stated: "Upon admission, we immediately reviewed and screened trainees for medical history and potential illnesses to promptly detect, treat, and provide the best possible health advice during addiction treatment. In addition, we exchanged experiences in diagnosing and treating withdrawal symptoms, monitoring ARV use, and creating a dynamic and professional working environment, contributing to a strong and united team that successfully completes all assigned tasks."

Reportedly, the facility is currently managing over 100 trainees with latent tuberculosis, 5 of whom are receiving on-site tuberculosis treatment; 5% of the trainees have HIV and are using ARV medication. Thanks to thorough preparation and surveys, the police force quickly adapted and successfully implemented the new operational and management model from the very beginning.

The officers and soldiers thoroughly understood the circumstances and psychology of the trainees in order to develop appropriate plans and adjustments, encouraging them to overcome their feelings of inferiority and comply with the regulations of the rehabilitation program.

Examining a trainee with tuberculosis at the facility. (Photo: THANH SON)

Located on an island in the Thac Ba hydroelectric lake, the drug rehabilitation center has been operating for over 20 years. Due to its isolation from the mainland, lacking fences and barbed wire, the residential buildings are well-built and surrounded by flowers and ornamental plants.

The drug rehabilitation center is divided into three areas: the Administrative Area on the mainland, and Areas A and B located on the island, to facilitate the classification of trainees into five treatment stages. Every day, trainees wake up at 5 a.m. to exercise, have breakfast, and then divide into groups to work.

Trainees at the facility are free to move around, without being confined to rooms, which helps them feel relaxed and confident in their addiction recovery, eliminating the fear and low self-esteem they experienced when they first arrived.

Currently, Yen Bai province is investing in building a new facility with a capacity of 300 trainees, costing 20 billion VND, ensuring sufficient accommodation according to regulations. In addition to working in vegetable farming, pig and cattle raising, and fish farming, trainees after detoxification are trained in carpentry, electronic components, and garment making. This helps trainees, upon reintegrating into the community, to obtain a certificate of completion and be employed by the facility if needed.

Giang Thi Pang, a H'Mong ethnic minority trainee, said: "Over the past time, I have always received support and assistance from the staff in overcoming my drug addiction; the staff also disseminated information and educated me about the law, helping me to understand it better. In addition, the staff helped us learn a trade so that after completing rehabilitation, we will have stable jobs at home and stay away from drugs."

The cattle farming organization ensures supplemental feed is provided at the facility. (Photo: THANH SON)

Lieutenant Colonel Vo Loi, Head of the Yen Bai Provincial Rehabilitation Center, said: "The immediate and long-term task of the unit is to ensure the safety of patients and officers, to ensure the well-being of trainees, and to help them feel secure and comply well with the center's regulations."

With strong determination, we will continue to do a good job in state management of drug rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation management, contributing to improving the effectiveness of the fight against drug abuse in the mountainous province of Yen Bai. This is the foundation for moving towards a drug-free society, contributing to Yen Bai having a high happiness index in the northern mountainous region.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/noi-hoi-sinh-cuoc-doi-lam-lo-post875054.html