Thu Trang Nguyen1, Anh Ngoc Luong2, Thi Tuyet Thanh Nham3, Carole Chauvin4, Jonathan Feelemyer5, Nicolas Nagot6, Don Des Jarlais7, Minh Giang Le2, Marie Jauffret-Roustide4. 1. Centre for Research and Training on Substance Abuse - HIV, Hanoi Medical University, Viet Nam. Electronic address: ngn.thu.trang@gmail.com. 2. Centre for Research and Training on Substance Abuse - HIV, Hanoi Medical University, Viet Nam. 3. Supporting Community Development Initiatives, Viet Nam. 4. Centre of Medicine, Sciences, Health, Mental Health and Health Policy (CERMES 3) (Inserm U988/CNRS UMR 8211/EHESS/Université Paris Descartes), Paris, France. 5. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA. 6. Inserm U1058, Etablissement Français du Sang, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France. 7. Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Global Public Health, New York University, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Methadone maintenance treatment, initially introduced in Vietnam for HIV harm reduction, has marked a significant switch in the country's drug policy - from addiction as a moral issue to addiction as a brain disease. After the some initial outstanding achievements, the programme is facing a high dropout rate that threatens both goals of HIV prevention and drug treatment. This sociological study, as part of an HIV intervention research project, explores the challenges and opportunities that individuals who use drugs are faced with in relation to addiction treatment. METHODS: A qualitative study among drug users with and without methadone maintenance treatment experiences recruited by peer outreach workers. We conducted 58 in-depth interviews and 2 focus groups between 2016 and 2017. RESULTS: The start of treatment brought about significant feelings of success as heroin use was no longer compulsive. However, being in treatment programmes is also challenging with respect to continuing the recovery process. Barriers to retention include a popular fear of methadone as another harmful drug, a feeling of dependence related to the current practices of methadone treatment programmes and a poor therapeutic relationship. In the face of such challenges, the two major motivations that keep patients in care come from the desire to completely break up with heroin and the pursuit of family happiness. CONCLUSION: The current practices of methadone programmes pose challenges to patients' recovery efforts from addiction and threaten treatment retention. Prompt interventions are needed to help Vietnam attain its objective of providing better care for larger vulnerable populations.
BACKGROUND:Methadone maintenance treatment, initially introduced in Vietnam for HIV harm reduction, has marked a significant switch in the country's drug policy - from addiction as a moral issue to addiction as a brain disease. After the some initial outstanding achievements, the programme is facing a high dropout rate that threatens both goals of HIV prevention and drug treatment. This sociological study, as part of an HIV intervention research project, explores the challenges and opportunities that individuals who use drugs are faced with in relation to addiction treatment. METHODS: A qualitative study among drug users with and without methadone maintenance treatment experiences recruited by peer outreach workers. We conducted 58 in-depth interviews and 2 focus groups between 2016 and 2017. RESULTS: The start of treatment brought about significant feelings of success as heroin use was no longer compulsive. However, being in treatment programmes is also challenging with respect to continuing the recovery process. Barriers to retention include a popular fear of methadone as another harmful drug, a feeling of dependence related to the current practices of methadone treatment programmes and a poor therapeutic relationship. In the face of such challenges, the two major motivations that keep patients in care come from the desire to completely break up with heroin and the pursuit of family happiness. CONCLUSION: The current practices of methadone programmes pose challenges to patients' recovery efforts from addiction and threaten treatment retention. Prompt interventions are needed to help Vietnam attain its objective of providing better care for larger vulnerable populations.
Authors: Theodore M Hammett; Nguyen Thu Trang; Khuat Thi Hai Oanh; Nguyen Thi Huong; Le Minh Giang; Duong Thi Huong; Nicolas Nagot; Don C Des Jarlais Journal: J Public Health Policy Date: 2018-05 Impact factor: 2.222
Authors: Don Des Jarlais; Huong Thi Duong; Khue Pham Minh; Oanh Hai Thi Khuat; Thanh Tuyet Thi Nham; Kamyar Arasteh; Jonathan Feelemyer; Douglas D Heckathorn; Marianne Peries; Jean Pierre Moles; Didier Laureillard; Nicolas Nagot Journal: AIDS Care Date: 2016-05-13
Authors: Steven L Proctor; Amy L Copeland; Albert M Kopak; Norman G Hoffmann; Philip L Herschman; Nadiya Polukhina Journal: Psychol Addict Behav Date: 2015-06-22
Authors: Dana Button; Ryan Cook; Caroline King; Tong Thi Khuyen; Lynn Kunkel; Gavin Bart; Dinh Thanh Thuy; Diep Bich Nguyen; Christopher K Blazes; Le Minh Giang; P Todd Korthuis Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2021-11-09
Authors: Tetiana Kiriazova; Vivian F Go; Rebecca B Hershow; Erica L Hamilton; Riza Sarasvita; Quynh Bui; Kathryn E Lancaster; Kostyantyn Dumchev; Irving F Hoffman; William C Miller; Carl A Latkin Journal: Harm Reduct J Date: 2020-10-01