The government has been urged to develop "maintenance treatment" medications for drug addicts, who are responsible for 40 per cent of street robberies in Guangzhou, reports New Express News.

Many countries and regions use medications such as methadone, LAAM and naltrexone to treat opiate addiction.

Though the medications have been criticized as "heroin substitutes" that only alleviate the symptoms of drug addiction, Guangzhou should consider similar treatment programmes if only for the purpose of improving social order, said Zheng Guoqiang, deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress.

Some 70 per cent of addicts start taking drugs again after undergoing Guangzhou's current rehabilitation programmes.

And the average addict can spend up to 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) a month on illegal drugs, according to a study conducted by the Baiyun District government.

With low-cost maintenance medications supplied by the government, at least addicts would not have to resort to crime for drug money, Zheng said.

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