A VIETNAMESE HEROIN ADDICT WORKS IN A RE-EDUCATION CENTRE OUTSIDE HANOI, 1999-07-09 (photo)

BA VI,VIETNAM,9JUL99 - A heroin addict does some weeding around a plot growing a traditional medicinal herb inside Re-education Centre 06 at Ba Vi, 60 km (37 miles) west of Hanoi July 7. The centre currently holds 318 hardcore addicts who are detained for periods of six months in order to undergo withdrawal and receive education on the dangers of drugs, the obligations of good citizens, and undertake physical work. While most addicts in the centre express a desire to kick the habit, Hanoi authorities say re-addiction rates are as high as 85 percent. AJS/PB