Intravenous drug users are among the most at risk of contracting HIV-AIDS virus. But one Beijing community health center has found ways to help keep both relapses and HIV infections at bay for high-risk populations.

The methadone maintenance clinic of the Puhuangyu Community Health Center doesn't just dole out medications for addicts to quit opiates.

Origami is also part of the caregivers' job.

Social worker Liu Xueli at the clinic said patients' recovery is often hampered by difficulties that are non-physical.

"It takes a month to clear the toxins from the body, but it takes much longer to make a clean break with the past," Liu said while preparing for upcoming group sessions.

"Here social workers try to respond to individual needs, like organizing family activities for those with family issues, meditation sessions for those who have sleep problems, and we find lawyers if people have legal problems."

The clinic also has a place for patients to deal with matters of the heart.

Its counseling room has assessment and counseling equipment, as well as designated therapists.

At the community clinic, everyone from the neighborhood can also take HIV tests for free, and get results on the spot.

The clinic's patients, out of the sensitivity, are not allowed to be interviewed.

But doctors said the holistic approach to preventing re-addiction and HIV infection works.

Liu Hong, director at the community center said community work is uniquely positioned to help patients in a "holistic" way.

"We are at a place where we can really help address the patient's every need, from physical to social pressure," Liu said. "We can help every step of the way."

According to a Xinhua report, Beijing had 2,669 new cases of HIV or AIDS reported in the first 10 months of 2019, a 7.1 percent drop from last year.