Tangerang to build methadone clinic

Tha Jakarta Post, Thu, 12/11/2008 10:36 AM  

TANGERANG: As part of efforts to reduce the spread of HIV caused by injecting drug use, the Tangerang Health Agency will establish three drug rehabilitation clinics early next year. 

The clinics called Klinik Program Terapi Rumatan Metadon (KPTRM) will be established at Ciputat and Lippo Karawaci community health centers, and Tangerang General Hospital. 

"The three locations can be easily reached," said Yuli Sunar Dewanti, head of communicable diseases prevention at the agency, Wednesday. 

"KPTRM can reduce the spread HIV because 90 percent of HIV cases in Tangerang were infected through sharing needles," she said. The clinics will provide addicts with methadone, a drug commonly used to treat heroin addiction.

"Drug addicts can go to the clinic regularly and consume methadone under the control of our officers there. 

They just need to pay for Rp 15,000 each  time they come, " she said, adding that the agency had trained 22 officers to be stationed at the three clinics.