Reclaiming the future

At the Substance Abuse Psychiatry Department (Provincial Mental Health Hospital), considered the last "lifeline," each patient is a lost soul, and each treatment case is a battle to reclaim themselves.

Youth fades away after the highs.

While his peers were establishing stable careers and building happy families, NVĐ (born in 1991, Ha Long City) was being treated at the Psychiatric Disorders Department for substance abuse, suffering from paranoia and agitation due to prolonged marijuana addiction. His path to this place didn't begin with a single major setback, but rather with small, quiet steps, starting with... video games.

When he was in 11th grade, D. became addicted to video games. From sleepless nights at internet cafes, the once-amateur student gradually became lazy in his studies and detached from real life. But few would have thought that later, from that very virtual passion, D. would enter the harsh world of drugs.

In 2017, after graduating from university, D. started working in the maritime industry in Ho Chi Minh City. Living far from home, lacking family and direction, and especially the emotional shock of being dumped by his girlfriend, led D. to turn to marijuana as a way to escape loneliness. D. shared: “No one encouraged me. I researched and bought marijuana on my own. This drug is widely advertised on social media groups, and I chose it. Initially, I only thought it would help me sleep and have fun. But the more I used it, the more dependent I became without realizing it…”

Dr. Cao Thi Xuan Thuy, Head of the Department of Mental Disorders Due to Substance Abuse, examines and provides health counseling to substance addicts.

Prolonged marijuana use had eroded D.'s health and mental well-being. From someone with a good education and a stable job, D. gradually lost his ability to concentrate, became negligent at work, and was eventually laid off by his company. Only when he returned from Ho Chi Minh City did his parents realize the heartbreaking truth: their son had become addicted to drugs.

Since 2019, the family has taken D. to many private facilities hoping to help him overcome his addiction. But the more they tried, the more exhausted they became mentally and financially . D.'s mother said: "Initially, the family kept it a secret, not daring to tell anyone. We were embarrassed in front of relatives and neighbors. But hiding it didn't help him recover. We went from one place to another, but D. kept relapsing. Each time he tried to quit, it was a desperate attempt."

When local authorities learned of D.'s situation, they advised and guided him to the provincial drug rehabilitation center. However, several attempts at rehabilitation were unsuccessful. Recently, D. has shown signs of agitation and destructive behavior at home. His family has admitted him to the Provincial Mental Health Hospital, considered the "last resort" for those who have crossed the dangerous threshold of new-generation drug addiction. "We are all retired, and we have no money left. We only have a faint hope in the doctors at the Substance Abuse and Mental Disorders Department. We just hope he will return to normal. We just hope that one day we can sleep soundly without fear of him having a panic attack, destroying things, or doing something reckless…," D.'s mother said, her voice choked with emotion.

The case of NTC (born in 1988, Cam Pha City) is also a cautionary tale. Since middle school, C. started hanging out with bad company. His truancy gradually turned into attempts at marijuana, a drug considered "mild" but capable of causing insidious and persistent addiction.

Without studying or working, C. lived a life of idleness, drug use, and street racing. Two serious traffic accidents caused C. to suffer traumatic brain injuries, requiring lengthy hospitalizations. But after each hospital stay, C. always reverted to drug use.

Now, at age 37, C. has almost no clear awareness of reality. Admitted to the Substance Abuse Psychiatry Department by her family for treatment, C. is constantly fatigued and has a hazy memory. Dr. Cao Thi Xuan Thuy (Head of the Substance Abuse Psychiatry Department) stated: C.'s condition is a typical consequence of long-term marijuana and synthetic drug use. The added traumatic brain injury has further damaged her nervous system. Restoring her cognitive abilities will be very difficult.

Drugs erode health.

Meanwhile, NVT (born in 1972, Van Don district) took a different path of addiction. Once a skilled fisherman, T. started using heroin in his twenties and contracted HIV from sharing needles. Despite his deteriorating health, he continued using drugs and participated in the illegal trafficking of prohibited substances, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. After his release, T. turned to alcoholism to fill the void, leading to severe physical debilitation, inability to walk, eat, or sleep, and exhibiting psychotic and paranoid behavior. Finally, his family took him to the hospital.

Behind each patient lies the pain of their family, mental and financial exhaustion, and social ostracism. However, the doctors at the Substance Abuse Psychiatry Department persevere in treatment, listening, and encouragement, becoming the last resort for these misguided lives.

Efforts to restore dignity and a future for patients.

Since 2011, Quang Ninh Mental Health Hospital has been admitting and treating inpatients addicted to synthetic drugs. In March 2012, the Department of Mental Disorders Due to Drug Use was officially established, becoming a specialized treatment center for patients with mental disorders, paranoia, psychosis, and depression caused by drug use.

According to Dr. Cao Thi Xuan Thuy, from just over a dozen initial beds, the department now has 52 actual beds, with a staff of 5 doctors, 9 nurses, and 2 midwives. Each year, the department receives approximately 500 patients with mental disorders due to drug addiction, of which more than 20% are teenagers. This number raises an alarming alarm.

Currently, the situation regarding drug use is becoming more complex and dangerous than ever before. While previously, patients mainly used stimulant drugs such as methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine, or heroin, in the last 3-4 years, the rate of synthetic cannabis addiction has increased significantly, with more diverse and sophisticated methods of use. Even more worrying is the increasingly younger age of drug use. Adolescents are easily lured due to curiosity, lack of life experience, and academic and life pressures. Many cases involve children being enticed to use cannabis through e-cigarettes, candy, or drinks without realizing it. Therefore, hospitals often receive adolescents during the summer for examination, counseling, and early risk detection.

The Hon Gai Port Border Guard Station (Provincial Border Guard) arrested a suspect for illegally possessing 0.928 grams of narcotics (April 15, 2025). Photo: Nguyen Chien

Cannabis use has serious consequences for physical health and especially mental health. According to the latest guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), addictive substances can cause damage to both the subcortical and supracortical brain, leading to intellectual decline, reduced cognitive function, and impact on work capacity and quality of life. More dangerously, even with only a few uses, users risk neurotoxicity with potentially long-lasting or permanent consequences. “This is a strong wake-up call for parents and society as a whole. Early recognition, raising awareness, and implementing preventative measures from the outset are extremely necessary,” emphasized Dr. Cao Thi Xuan Thuy.

Once addicted to drugs, many young people develop a defeatist attitude. They believe that once addicted, there's no turning back and they no longer try to protect themselves. Furthermore, a lack of knowledge and support from adults means that many who experience anxiety, depression, or mental disorders due to substance abuse do not seek medical help, but instead silently endure their suffering or continue to be dependent on drugs.

On April 17, the People's Court of Co To District held a first-instance trial for the case of "illegal trafficking of narcotics" and sentenced Doan Dac Tien, from Hamlet 3, Thanh Lan Commune, Co To District, to 7 years and 6 months in prison. Photo: Thu Bau (CTV)

In the context of increasingly sophisticated drugs disguised in various forms that are difficult to identify, strengthening awareness campaigns and preventive education should be considered a top priority. Furthermore, early intervention, starting from the moment young people are exposed to or show signs of being lured into addiction, plays a crucial role in preventing the vicious cycle of addiction. This becomes even more urgent as the age of drug users is getting younger, while new types of drugs are often cleverly disguised as e-cigarettes, food, drinks, etc., making it easy for young people to be drawn in without fully understanding the consequences.

Preventive education not only provides knowledge but also equips young people with the strength to refuse drugs, choosing a safe path for their health, mind, and future. Society, families, and schools need to work together to prevent drugs from entering from the outside and equip young people with "resistance" from within.

Nguyen Hoa

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/tim-lai-tuong-lai-3355295.html