Public health authorities in south China's Guangdong Province have announced that they will open 30 more methadone replacement clinics over the next few months.

Huang Fei, deputy director of Guangdong Provincial Health Bureau, said procedures for construction of 27 of the planned new methadone clinics had been assessed by a provincial-level expert panel and are now awaiting approval by the state.

The new methadone clinics will be built in at least 16 cities, including three in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, according to the official.

Guangdong currently has two methadone clinics. They started offering replacement doses last January and have so far treated a total of 155 drug addicts.

"Methadone therapy has won acclaim and support from people of all walks of life, especially family members of drug addicts," said Huang.

101 methadone clinics have so far been set up across China and the number will increase to 305 by the end of the year.

Methadone, a synthesized narcotic which is far less noxious than morphine hydrochloride, is widely used internationally as a substitution drug to help addicts kick their addiction.

In China's methadone clinics, a cup of methadone drink that helps addicts satisfy their thirst for drugs only costs 10 yuan. Methadone weans addicts off drug injections, helping stop the spread of AIDS and other contagious diseases.

Those undergoing methadone replacement therapy are required to take regular urine tests. The results are recorded in a national data base run by police authorities.

According to the notice issued by the Ministry of Public Security, those who persist in using drugs will be sent to institutions for compulsory drug abstinence.

(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2006)