Head operation helps addicts kick heroin habit

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, March 06, 2004

Head operation helps addicts kick heroin habit

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A 34-year-old Chinese, who battled heroin addiction for 11 years, has shown no desire to return to the narcotics 25 days after an innovative surgical procedure carried out in Guangzhou, China Daily reported on March 6.

The operation was carried out in a hospital in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.

"It is really amazing. It seems that the memory of the drugs has been wiped from my mind. I am so delighted and feel so relaxed now, " Chen said.

The surgery involved the drilling of a hole in his skull one centimeter in diameter. Doctors believe that this procedure effectively cuts out the addict's craving for drugs.

Apart from a lack of sleep for the first few days after the procedure, experts said the treatment has no major side effects, according to the paper.

The surgery cost Chen 35,000 yuan (4,070 US dollars) and requires that he stay in hospital for at least three weeks after the operation, which itself took just two hours, the paper said.

"He recovered very well after the operation," said Yang Lirong, the doctor in charge of his care regime.

Since 2001, 18 patients ranging form teenagers to seniors in 60s have received similar treatment for addiction at the hospital.

According to doctors, only one of the 18 patients had relapsed. It is believed the influence of drug-using friends played a major role.

Source: Xinhua

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