Hanoi will launch its first project to treat drug addiction with methadone next Tuesday, according to Le Nhan Tuan, director of the city’s HIV/AIDS prevention center.

It is estimated that 20,133 people are living with HIV/AIDS in the capital, including 1,476 people who have tested positive for this year, Tuan said.

A popular synthetic opioid used medically in the treatment of narcotic addiction in many countries, methadone can help suppress narcotic withdrawal symptoms for between 24 and 36 hours when taken orally once a day.

Medical literature says the patient finally remains physically dependent on methadone, but is freed from the uncontrolled, compulsive, and disruptive behavior seen in heroin addicts.

Vietnam first introduced methadone for drug addiction treatment programs in 2007 with pilot projects in Ho Chi Minh City and the northern port city of Hai Phong.

Reported by N.V.C