Ministry of Health issues guidance to manage synthetic drug abusers

Drug addicts at a detoxification establishment in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – The
has issued specific
guidelines on intervention to manage amid an increase
in in the country.

The guidance includes
overview of synthetic drugs, screening, diagnosis,
based on psychology and behaviours, and treatment of mental disorders.

The ministry said
social assistance should be provided in the community for synthetic drugs
abusers.

According to Le Duc
Hien, deputy head of the Department of Prevention for Social Evils under the Ministry of Labour,
Invalids and Social Affairs, the abuse of synthetic drugs is rising, posing
challenges to drug detoxification work.

At a press briefing
on March 15, Hien said there are 225,089 drug addicts known to authorities in
the country, of whom between 60-70 use synthetic drugs.

The rate even surpasses
90 percent in some localities, such as An Giang, Binh Phuoc and Hau Giang.

According to the
National Institute of Mental Health at Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital,
psychological problems among synthetic drugs include paranoia, hallucinations  and depression. – VNA