PM asks for efforts to reduce drug supply, demand and impact

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a directive on intensifying drug prevention, control and detoxification with the aim of reducing the supply, demand and impact of drugs.

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In Directive 25/CT-TTg, the Government leader requested Ministers and heads of ministry-level agencies to prioritise the battle against drug trafficking and drug detoxification as the key task.

He stressed the need to increase international cooperation, improve relevant policies and laws, enhance prevention work and apply administrative punishment on illegal drug users and encourage voluntary detoxification.

The PM also urged for intensifying education drives on the prevention of drug trafficking and drug detoxification to attract the involvement of all people in this task, along with diversifying treatment and detoxification methods, and tightening control over legal drug-related activities.

He assigned the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs to coordinate with other agencies and localities to build a programme on strengthening the management of drug abusers and detoxification, and assess and multiply effective detoxification models.

The Ministries of Public Security and Defence were required to strengthen the fight on drug trafficking, especially along the border line.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry was urged to research safe and effective medicine and treatment programs for drug detoxification, while increasing the capacity of medical staff at detoxification facilities and in methadone treatment.

In Vietnam, a total of 19,333 drug crimes were prevented during 2016, with more than 31,000 suspects arrested.

In the same year, there were nearly 211,000 registered drug addicts in the country, up 10,600 from 2015.

(Source: NDO)