Remaking Life: Christian Approach to Drug Addiction in Contemporary Vietnam
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Abstract
Narcotic drug addiction is one of the social problems faced by the Vietnamese since Renovation (Đổi mới) which is understood as the Party-state’s economic reform accompanied by changes in politico-social policies. Drug addiction is reported to be associated with crimes such as family and community violence, robbery, murder, social disorder, and human trafficking. Many drug addicts die at a young age due to abuse of narcotic substances. Despite the state authorities’ intensifying legal actions, anti-narcotic social campaigns and NGOs’ initiatives, the number of narcotic addicts increases annually. Compulsory medical treatments applied at state-funded rehabilitation centers only achieve limited outcomes and the percentage of patients’ relapse is always high. Meanwhile, in recent two decades, alternative methods to treat narcotic addiction have been provided by a number of Buddhist or Christian-based communities. Prominently, Protestant churches through what is called “Restoration ministry” have actively helped people to recover from addiction without using medicine. Despite being under controversial debate, their method has yielded undeniable results. This article examines how narcotic addicts have been enabled to rehabilitate, recover their health and remake their life at a community-based, voluntary rehabilitation center known as the Vietnam Full Gospel Church’s Aquila Rescue Center. Based on analysis of gathered data, the authors illustrate that drug addiction treatment based on religious faith can provide long-lasting effects on the narcotic addicts.
How to Cite
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Post-Renovation Vietnam, drug addiction, rehabilitation, Protestantism, Vietnam Full Gospel Church’s Aquila Rescue Center
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