On May 16, 2026, the Ministry of Health officially issued Circular No. 14/2026/TT-BYT regulating the diagnostic criteria and professional procedures for determining drug addiction. This Circular plays a crucial role in standardizing medical work related to the management, treatment, and rehabilitation of drug addiction, replacing previous regulations. The document will officially take effect from July 1, 2026. This is essential information that doctors and medical staff at healthcare facilities must master to apply correctly in accordance with current laws.
Subjects and scope of application
Circular 14/2026/TT-BYT applies to the determination of a person’s drug addiction status as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 31 of the Law on Drug Prevention and Control. Healthcare facilities assigned to perform diagnoses must ensure the necessary conditions regarding personnel, facilities, and equipment to execute the procedure accurately, transparently, and in compliance with the law.
Diagnostic criteria for drug addiction
Determining whether a person suffers from drug addiction syndrome requires a thorough clinical and subclinical assessment. According to the latest regulations, a person is diagnosed with drug addiction when at least 3 out of 6 criteria occur simultaneously within at least 1 month, or repeatedly within 12 months.
Specifically, these criteria include: the patient has a strong desire or a compulsive sense to use drugs; experiences difficulty controlling drug use behaviors regarding the onset, termination, or level of use; shows signs of drug tolerance causing the patient to increase the dosage. Additionally, there is the emergence of a withdrawal syndrome when stopping or reducing drug intake; the patient gradually neglects hobbies and important activities to seek drugs; and finally, continues to use drugs despite being fully aware of the harmful consequences on physical and mental health.
Professional procedures for determining drug addiction
To ensure objectivity and scientific accuracy, the Circular requires the implementation of the addiction determination process through specific professional steps. The first step is receiving the individual needing addiction status determination and establishing a detailed medical record. Next, the doctor conducts a comprehensive clinical examination, focusing on exploiting the history of substance use and vital signs.
Following this, the patient will be prescribed mandatory subclinical tests to determine the presence of drugs in the body through urine or blood samples. The fourth step involves retaining the patient for continued observation of clinical progression, particularly withdrawal symptoms. Finally, based on the results of the clinical examination, subclinical tests, and the observation period, the specialist will synthesize the information, cross-reference it with the diagnostic criteria, and issue an official conclusion.
Significance of the Circular to the healthcare system
The introduction of Circular 14/2026/TT-BYT helps to make professional standards more transparent and stringent, while supporting medical staff in conducting assessments confidently with a solid legal foundation. Healthcare facilities need to organize training sessions and immediately update these procedures for the medical staff directly involved in professional work, ensuring synchronized application nationwide.
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