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Voluntary drug rehab centres take holistic approach
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-03-18 08:42
Three years ago, A Qiang was only 17; but he had been taking drugs for three
years.
A doctor examines a
drug addict under the help of two police men at a voluntary drug rehab.
[file photo] | Leaving home in Lufeng, a county in South China's Guangdong Province after
his parents' divorce, A Qiang began his vagabond life at Guangzhou Railway
Station and soon, he learnt to overcome his fear, depression and even hunger
with drugs.
When he was found by a local journalist in 2001, A Qiang was a physical and
mental wreck. He was then sent to the city's Baiyun Voluntary Drug
Rehabilitation Centre.
Li Ling, a doctor at the centre, has a clear recollection of A Qiang.
"He was only a bag of bones when he first came. But after the rehabilitation,
he visibly put on some weight. More importantly, he developed a healthy view
towards the world, no longer blaming society each time he was wronged."
Gazing into a mirror while leaving the centre after 20 days of
rehabilitation, which was provided free, A Qiang was amazed to see his
transformation.
It was, however, no surprise for Doctor Li, who has been working with the
centre since its establishment in September 2000, and has witnessed many such
rebirths of former drug addicts.
Known as one of the best non-governmental voluntary drug rehabilitation
centres in the city, Baiyun centre, affiliated to the Guangzhou Committee of
Communist Youth League, has so far offered help to more than 3,000 drug addicts.
About 72 per cent of them have completely stopped using drugs after they
underwent rehabilitative treatment, the centre's statistics show.
Back home, A Qiang did not use drugs any more and opened a motorbike repair
shop with the financial support from the centre.
A home of their own
To drug users, Baiyun centre conjures up no bleak images usually associated
with compulsory detoxification centres.
With sports and entertainment facilities, and even a beauty salon, patients
call the centre their home.
Rehabilitation usually lasts for about one month, mainly using methadone and
traditional Chinese medicine, supported by psychological counselling.
"Our centre protects drug users' privacy and all of them are referred to as
patients," says Doctor Li.
"We often have talks with them. We want to let them know that society is with
them," Li added.
The centre is committed to help drug users drop their psychological
dependence on drugs first. "Otherwise, they will relapse into drug use soon
after they finish the rehabilitation process," says Li.
Regarded as an anti-social group, drug users are usually segregated from
society and often have to idle away time with other drug users, even they have
gone through rehabilitation.
In the centre, doctors are required to have talks with patients.
"Shaking hands with them and smiling at them gives them the feeling of
warmth," says Li.
A woman surnamed Wang was attracted to the Baiyun centre by the positive
comments from former drug users.
Four years ago, she was told by her friend that heroin could help her lose
weight. She tried it out of curiosity and quickly developed an addiction.
Late last month, Wang made up her mind to shake off the habit.
"My family does not know I have come here to receive voluntary
rehabilitation. What's more, they did not know I had been using drugs for so
long a time," she says. "But I'll try to face them with a new look after this."
Management vital
Guangdong Province has more than 140,000 known drug users.
As more people fall victim to drug addiction in this booming province in
South China, more voluntary rehabilitation centres, some run privately, have
been opened.
Last year, the Guangdong Provincial Health Bureau authorized 34 private
rehabilitation centres in the province, according to Zhang Wei, an official with
the bureau.
It is estimated that there are about 300 such voluntary centres nationwide at
present.
Eight years ago, there were 15 such voluntary rehabilitation centres in
Guangzhou but some were forced to stop operation because of malpractices.
"Such centres must be strictly operated in line with the law, or they become
a hiding place for drug users to escape the police," says Li.
In China, drug users are required by law to undergo rehabilitation in detox
institutions once they are caught using drugs. Researchers have found that it is
very hard for users to drop drugs completely after they end the days in the
detox institution.
As a result, experts suggest that voluntary rehabilitation centres continue
to play an important role in fighting against drug abuse.
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