95% of addicts have used crystal meth

(Baonghean) - Currently, drug use is on the rise among young people, especially crystal meth. Meanwhile, the treatment and management of drug addicts still face many difficulties.

Rejuvenating addicts

The Central Health Department of the Vinh City Social Labor Education Center currently has nearly 50 drug addicts in rehabilitation. These are new cases brought to the center and are all in a state of needing treatment to stop withdrawal, detoxify, and restore health.

According to Dr. Thai Khac Ngoc - Deputy Head of the Department, "Usually, a drug addict only needs about 10 days to be able to quit. However, that is in mild cases. In severe cases, cases of using crystal meth can last from 25 to 30 days, because many people fall into a state of paranoia, psychosis, depression and even loss of consciousness."

Labor trainees at the Vinh City Social Labor Education Center. Photo: Canh Nam

At the Vinh City Social Labor Education Center, to ensure the safety of the unit's doctors and staff, the subjects must be isolated in separate rooms. During the examination and treatment process, in addition to medical staff, there is also the support of a security team. When we arrived, there were quite a few seriously ill patients, including a case that had just been transferred by the City Police a few days ago in a state of no longer being able to perceive. Among them was a subject named Hung, from Cua Nam Ward, born in 1992, who had just gotten married and had a child not long ago. However, due to excessive use of crystal meth, Hung suffered from severe paranoia, constantly suspecting his wife of having an affair, and intending to kill her.

According to the list in the treatment room, we were also surprised to see that more than 70% of the subjects were in their late 80s and 90s, many of whom were even students, teachers, engineers, and specialists of departments and branches in the province.

According to Mr. Toan, people who use crystal meth (synthetic drugs) are much more dangerous and harmful than other drugs. The main reason is that crystal meth, when used a lot, will directly affect the brain. Using a lot can lead to psychosis and chronic disorders that cannot be recovered. In addition, crystal meth also causes very scary mental disorders. In which, there are cases of excessive excitement or symptoms of anxiety, restlessness, hallucinations that cause addicts to act aggressively, attack others... Right at the center, every year there are 3-4 people who have to get exposed injections because they are attacked by addicts and HIV infected people.

Recently, in the province, there have been many "stoned" people who have committed dangerous acts, causing themselves and many people around them to be implicated. On June 23, in Le Loi ward (Vinh city), Ho Ba T, after using crystal meth, used a sharp knife to cut his own neck. Afterwards, when the police force came to arrest him, T continued to argue with the police and threatened people in the surrounding area. In early May, Phan Van V (29 years old), residing in Que Son commune (Que Phong), after using crystal meth, also lost control and used a crossbow and knife to run out to the town area to fight with many passersby. At the end of June, a security guard at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital was stabbed to death by a drug addict right in the hospital.

Difficult to manage

Speaking at the Workshop on Prevention and Control of School Crime in Vocational Education Institutions organized by the General Department of Vocational Education and the Department of Prevention of Social Evils - Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs in Vinh City at the end of June, Mr. Dang Cao Thang - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of the province said: Currently, there are 7,000 drug addicts in the province and 410 communes with drug addicts. In which, although there are no complete statistics, the rate of students using drugs accounts for a large proportion. In particular, the rate of students using crystal meth in the form of candy, medicine, and stamps is on the rise, especially in bars and restaurants, causing serious consequences, affecting the lives, studies, and future of the students themselves...

In addition to drug addiction, students are also involved in illegal drug trafficking and transportation. In mid-2015, Vinh City Police arrested two students from Nghe An Vocational College for transporting 700 synthetic drug pills from Laos to Vinh for sale.

Giving detoxification injections to synthetic drug addicts at the Vinh City Labor and Social Affairs Center. Photo: Canh Nam

The report of the Provincial People's Committee also affirmed: The drug addiction situation in the province has complicated developments and is on the rise. Worryingly, in addition to the large number of heroin addicts, the number of people using synthetic drugs in the form of Amphetamine, rock and liquid is increasing. The age of addicts is getting younger, concentrated in urban areas and mountainous areas.

Another fact worth considering is that although the province has about 7,000 drug addicts, only nearly 1,300 cases are being treated at drug rehabilitation centers and detention camps. The remaining number, mainly present in the community or have not been recorded for management reasons such as: Drug addicts and families with addicts have not voluntarily reported their addiction status, or even lack cooperation in determining their addiction status; addicts often move around, with unstable residence; Local authorities are still not determined in investigating and surveying drug addicts in the area.

According to Dr. Pham Kim Thin - Director of Nghe An Mental Hospital, having thousands of addicts outside the management of the centers leads to many dangers, especially those addicted to crystal meth.

My Ha - Canh Nam