Over 100 community clinics devoted to the rehabilitation of heroin addicts have been established in China since 2003.

A national conference designed to raise awareness of methadone treatment for heroin addiction in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, heard yesterday that trial operations of the clinics covering 21 provinces and autonomous regions were carried-out in an attempt to reduce drug abuse and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

According to an expert from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDCP), who spoke at the meeting, China will approve the establishment of another batch of the small-sized medical facilities this year. A total of 128 clinics have already received the green light to begin full operations following their trial sessions since 2003.

Drug injections are seen as a key route for the spread of AIDS. It's estimated that over 40 percent of AIDS patients and HIV virus carriers in China, which was reported to be 650 thousand in China last year, were infected via contaminated needles.

Wang Xiangdong, an official with China's anti-drugs agency, said the project was an important part of the country's campaign to reduce the impact of drugs. Public security departments would cooperate in verifying the profiles of heroin users which is a requirement to get access to treatment and supervising them.  

Methadone is synthetic and works by occupying the brain receptor sites affected by heroin and other opiates. The treatment has addicts receiving daily doses of Methadone helping drug users  reduce or quit their drug habit. 

China's methadone treatment campaign is aimed at cutting the size of the country's drug markets, reducing or stopping the use of needles and cutting down the risk of contracting or transmitting diseases such as AIDS.

The programs also aim to curb the criminal activities of the addicts, increase their employment potential and to assist restore stable family lives.

(CRI March 27, 2006)