Methadone Therapy Given to 244 Drug Users
Reported by TP Moan Simanjuntak | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
The Methadone Therapy Program (PTRM) in Indonesia keeps developing. Even, three community health centers (Puskesmas) in West Jakarta has applied the program, namely Tambora, Cengkareng, and Petamburan Sub-Districts. From these puskesmas, at this time, at least 224 have participated in the program.
The current amount of PTRM patients in West Jakarta are 224 people in such puskesmas
According to Widyastuti, Head of West Jakarta Health Department, three out of eight puskesmas have applied the methadone therapy. "The current amount of PTRM patients in West Jakarta are 224 people in such puskesmas," she expressed, Saturday (7/12).
She details 224 patients consist of 105 patients in Tambora Puskesmas, 81 patients in Grogol Puskesmas, and 58 patients in Cengkareng Puskesmas.
BNN: Drug Users to Reach 5 Million by 2015She assessed the methadone therapy in liquid form is drunk according to the dosage, where it has the effect of morphine and cocaine resembles, with a longer tenure, thus it can be drunk once a day.
"We change the pattern. In details, drug users are directed to drink the liquid methadone. The way is done to break the chain of HIV/AIDS infection from unsterilized syringe use by drug users," he explained.
She added that the program aims to change behavior and improve the drug users' health and additives, so they can live normal and productive.
