Job creation - a solution to help patients successfully receive methadone treatment

However, there are still many patients who relapse into drug addiction or drop out of treatment halfway, one of the most important reasons being that the patients do not have stable jobs.

After deciding to quit using methadone, patients need a new life to keep themselves from the old temptations. However, without a job, they easily fall into a pessimistic mood, lose confidence and become isolated from the community. The lack of a stable income and economic pressure make many people return to the path of addiction just to "relax" or temporarily forget reality.

As medical staff working at a methadone treatment facility, we have witnessed many patients who started out with determination but gradually gave up due to unemployment and lack of stable income. A patient in Cu M'gar district shared: "I took the medicine regularly, but for several months no one hired me to do anything, so when I was so hungry, I went back to smoking. At that time, I just thought about how to get through the day." Another case in Cu Ebur commune (Buon Ma Thuot city) had maintained treatment for nearly two years, but when it was known that he was addicted to drugs, he was fired. After only a few weeks of losing his job, he relapsed and stopped treatment. The above cases are not isolated, but are common among methadone patients in rural areas and ethnic minority areas in Dak Lak province.

A methadone patient works as a ride-hailing driver.

In fact, through monitoring patients on methadone treatment, doctors from the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control (Provincial Center for Disease Control) found that people with stable jobs such as construction workers, gardeners, technology drivers, take-away coffee sellers... often have a positive spirit, adhere to the medication schedule, maintain a healthy lifestyle and almost never relapse. According to statistics, as of April 29, 2025, the whole province had 176 patients on methadone treatment; of which, more than 75% of patients had stable jobs. A 2023 study in Dak Lak showed that the rate of full 12-month treatment compliance in the employed group reached 86%, while the unemployed group only reached about 57%.

Clearly, employment is not only a means of livelihood, but also a key factor in the long-term success of methadone treatment. When employed, patients not only have an income but also regain meaning in life, gain more confidence, and develop disciplined and healthy living habits. They feel useful to their families, are recognized by the community, and gradually erase past complexes. This has a strong impact on psychological resilience and increases treatment retention rates.

However, at present, job opportunities for people undergoing drug rehabilitation still face many barriers due to social prejudice, lack of “friendly” business support policies, limited skills of the patients themselves, low education and lack of confidence to start over. Many businesses and production facilities are afraid to hire people who are or have been in drug rehabilitation for fear of risks. This causes patients to be isolated and have difficulty integrating sustainably.

To remove these barriers, cooperation from the government, businesses, social organizations and the community is needed. Some practical solutions include: organizing short-term vocational training courses suitable for the patient's physical condition and local conditions such as repair, sewing, agriculture, handicrafts; the government needs to encourage businesses to recruit people undergoing drug treatment with preferential tax policies, communication to reduce stigma and support work skills; developing community livelihood models, local labor cooperatives, with a friendly environment and flexible working hours... Along with that, strengthening communication and community education to eliminate prejudice and create an open environment to help patients recover; integrating employment support into local addiction treatment policies to ensure sustainability.

The recovery journey of addicts does not stop with methadone every morning. To completely break away from drugs, they need more than that: a roof over their heads, a stable job, a welcoming community. Work is not only a means of making a living but also the most powerful spiritual medicine to help them continue to live a healthy, useful life, and rebuild their lives.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202505/tao-viec-lam-giai-phap-giup-benh-nhan-dieu-tri-methadone-thanh-cong-ca41877/