The story of NVĐ (born in 1991, Ha Long City) is a profound warning. While his peers were trying to build their careers, Đ had to be treated at the Department of Mental Disorders Due to Addiction (Provincial Mental Health Protection Hospital) in a state of paranoia and agitation due to prolonged marijuana addiction.
The path that led Đ to his current situation did not start with drugs, but from nights of playing games when he was in 11th grade. From a student with a solid foundation, a university graduate and a former maritime worker, Đ fell into the spiral of addiction after an emotional shock and living away from home. NVĐ shared in a rare moment of clarity: No one invited me. I researched and bought it myself. On social networking groups, marijuana was openly sold. I thought it was for fun, to help me sleep. But the more I used it, the more dependent I became on it without realizing it...
Doctors from the Department of Substance Use Disorders (Provincial Mental Health Hospital) consult and ask about the patient's health.
From a well-educated person with a stable job, Đ became a patient with uncontrolled behavior. The family only discovered it when Đ returned home due to job loss, a decline in health, and an erratic demeanor. The repeated visits to private drug rehabilitation centers and relapses gradually exhausted Đ's family both financially and mentally. Recently, when Đ showed signs of vandalism and agitation, the family was forced to take Đ to a specialized medical facility for treatment. "We are retired, and our money is exhausted. There is only a faint hope that our son can return to normal. Every night, we just want to sleep peacefully, without worrying that he will get sick and do something stupid..." - Đ's mother said with a sob.
The situation of drug use in Quang Ninh , as well as the whole country, is undergoing alarming changes. No longer heroin or crystal meth as before, synthetic marijuana is now increasing rapidly, with many sophisticated forms of camouflage in electronic cigarettes, candy, drinks... More alarmingly, the age of drug use is getting younger. Young people are easily attracted by curiosity, lack of knowledge and courage.
According to Dr. Cao Thi Xuan Thuy, Head of the Department of Mental Disorders Due to Addictive Substance Use (Provincial Mental Health Protection Hospital), addictive substances can cause damage to both the subcortex and the cortex of the brain, leading to intellectual decline, reduced cognition, affecting the ability to work and quality of life. More dangerously, even when used only a few times, users are at risk of neurotoxicity with consequences that can be long-lasting or permanent. This is a strong warning bell for parents and the whole society. Early recognition, raising awareness and taking preventive measures from the beginning are extremely necessary.
Patients take Methadone at the Department of Counseling and Addiction Treatment (Dong Trieu City Medical Center).
To help addicts recover, Quang Ninh has been vigorously implementing a program of treatment to replace opioids with Methadone. Currently, the province has 5 treatment facilities in Ha Long, Cam Pha, Uong Bi, Dong Trieu and Van Don. The whole province has 674 patients receiving Methadone treatment, including: Ha Long (254), Cam Pha (209), Van Don (91), Dong Trieu (80), Uong Bi (40). Of these, 264 people are also infected with HIV and 258 people are being treated with ARV drugs.
Methadone not only helps reduce the frequency of illegal drug use, but also improves the quality of life and mental health of patients. It is also an effective measure to prevent HIV infection in the community, when the number of HIV infections through drug injection is still high in many localities.
Responding to the 2025 Drug Prevention Action Month, every citizen, especially the youth, should start by saying no to drugs, be alert to sophisticated disguises, and proactively seek medical help if there are signs of dependence. Because drugs not only take away health, but also deprive addicts of their future.
Nguyen Hoa
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/noi-khong-va-tranh-xa-ma-tuy-3364546.html
Comment (0)