Home>News Center>China
       
 

New approach helps addicts kick habit
By Wang Zhenghua (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-26 00:40

Zhao Zeng was once a drug addict.

But now the 32-year-old man looks hale and hearty, not at all like he did when he was on narcotics.

With his hair set with gel, which makes him look pretty young and energetic, Zhao shocks many when he tells them that he was once on drugs for ten years.

The change took place last October when an emaciated Zhao entered a Beijing voluntary addiction treatment centre and volunteered to try a new therapy called "therapy community."

The therapy community, operated by the Ankang Hospital on the capital's outskirts, has so far helped 110 addicts, including Zhao, to shake off their addiction.

"At that time we had 28 drug addicts in the voluntary drug rehabilitation centre, which is called the Sunflower Community," said Lu Qiulin, the hospital president.

The community focuses on helping drug users overcome their psychological dependence on drugs.


A drug addicts receives medical treatment to help him to quit using drugs at the Shanghai Drug Rehabilitation Centre June 25, 2004. [Reuters]

But beyond the common treatments used by most detox centres, the community has developed many unique methods of its own.

According to Doctor Wang Zhiqiang, they make effective use of peer education. He believes it is more effective for people with the same psychological problems to encourage each other to break the habit.

"Drug users here live as family members in the community. They live in the community on an equal footing. They encourage each other to achieve the same goal -- getting rid of their addiction," Wang said.

But when two or more members of the group have disagreements, a "vent meeting" must be held.

During these meetings, they can express their feelings freely, or they can point out others' mistakes, while the others have the right to disagree, said Wang.

"It's somewhat like a bickering match, and it often lasts as long as two hours," Wang said.

But they are not allowed to use offensive words nor are they permitted to leave their chairs, added Wang.

"We believe that these meetings play an important role in their daily life, for from time to time drug addicts need to vent their anger or stress," the doctor said.

In addition, drugs, violence, theft and sexual intimacy are absolutely forbidden in the community, he said.

A disciplined life

On top of all group members having the same status, their daily life is fully scheduled.

According to Zhang Yu, who has been in the community for four months, she gets up at 7:00 am every morning.

"Then I must begin my busy daily schedule," said the woman in her 30s.


Drug addicts sit in their room before starting morning exercises at the Shanghai Drug Rehabilitation Center June 25, 2004. [Reuters]

Apart from attending lectures and meetings and taking part in sports and other forms of entertainment, each resident is asked to do a daily job.

Cui Xinhua, deputy director with the hospital told China Daily that the 28 residents are divided into four groups and each is responsible for one job such as cooking, cleaning and drafting notices.

"Every newcomer is a junior family member," said Cui, "and if their behaviour is appropriate, they may eventually be promoted to senior residents."

Only senior residents can receive phone calls from outside and visits from their friends, and they are even allowed to take part in the management work of the hospital.

"We conduct daily assessments to let all residents hear who is good enough to shoulder more responsibility," Cui said.

"For instance, Zhao is now a senior resident," said Cui, "because he can not only take care of himself, but also help resolve the problems of others.

The community is much more comfortable than the traditional compulsory detoxification centres, although some of the members still miss their families outside the home.

"In another month, I will be discharged from hospital," said Zhang, who is apparently looking forward to going back home.

She said the first thing she will do is have a good sleep and that she will never take drugs again.



 
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

Fire caused by lightning rages in northern forests

 

   
 

Dozens of drug dealers executed in China

 

   
 

US arms sales to Taiwan sparks tension

 

   
 

Israel's deputy PM visits father's Harbin grave

 

   
 

Poor school kids get letter from Blair

 

   
 

Reservoir flow to save waterfowl

 

   
  Illegal land development zones cut
   
  SMEs board performing well
   
  New approach helps addicts kick habit
   
  Israel's deputy PM visits father's Harbin grave
   
  Reservoir flow to save waterfowl
   
  Six parties take nuclear freeze as first step
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  When will china have direct elections?  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 精品久久久久久国产牛牛app| 91制片厂天美传媒鲸鱼传媒| 日韩欧美黄色大片| 国产精品久久久久久无毒不卡| 一本色道久久88亚洲精品综合| 日本丰满岳乱妇在线观看| 亚洲伊人久久大香线蕉综合图片| 激情国产白嫩美女在线观看| 国产成人综合亚洲| www夜插内射视频网站| 最近国语视频在线观看免费播放| 十分钟免费视频高清完整版www| 韩国18福利视频免费观看| 国产精品一区亚洲一区天堂| 97色精品视频在线观看| 女人扒开双腿让男人桶| 七次郎在线视频观看精品| 无遮挡全彩口工h全彩| 久久天堂成人影院| 最新中文字幕免费视频| 亚洲伊人久久大香线蕉综合图片 | 国产精品免费_区二区三区观看| 中文字幕julia中文字幕| 欧美日韩亚洲综合| 亚洲综合无码一区二区| 萌白酱视频在线| 在线免费黄色网址| www香蕉视频| 张瑶赵敏大学丝袜1-10| 中文字幕无码免费久久9一区9| 日韩国产成人精品视频人| 亚洲视频免费看| 真实国产乱子伦对白视频| 再深点灬舒服灬舒服点男同 | 日韩精品专区在线影院重磅| 亚洲综合五月天欧美| 秦先生第15部大战宝在线观看| 国产在线一区二区三区av| 91大神在线看| 多人乱p欧美在线观看| 中文字幕日产每天更新40|