Conference shares successful drug recovery models

The event was attended by outstanding rehabilitation support volunteers alongside delegates from 21 cities and provinces nationwide.

In his opening remarks, head of the ministry’s Social Evils Prevention Department Nguyen Xuan Lap said the conference aims to embrace innovative approaches of drug rehabilitation by sharing experience from successful treatment methods and post-rehabilitation support. Provincial authorities will learn from these successful models to develop their own treatment programmes, he added.

The event also honoured drug recovery support volunteers who had made great efforts to help drug users. Many of the volunteers previously had their own drug problems.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs estimated that Vietnam had more than 210,000 drug addicts by the end of 2016, with Dong Nai, Da Nang and An Giang having the highest rates of drug users in the country.

The country is home to 80 centres for compulsory drug treatment and 24 for voluntary treatment.