Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam called on the entire community to end discrimination against drug addicts and help them integrate into the society and rebuild a normal life during a meeting in northern Vinh Phuc province on June 19.

At the meeting, part of activities in response to the 2015 Action Month on Drug Prevention and Control, the Deputy PM urged the youth to take practical actions against drugs by keeping themselves and their friends and family away from drugs.

He also called on the business circle to give former drug addicts a second chance at employment to help them integrate into the society.

Meanwhile, Christopher Batt, Head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vietnam , said drug abuse and trafficking negatively impact the growth and stability of countries around the globe.

The office will work closely with Vietnam to build effective detoxification methods in line with the law to deal with drug dependence, he pledged.

This year, the action month is themed “Joining Hands to help Drug Addicts,” calling for the engagement of the whole community in drug prevention and control and implementing overall measures to provide drug addicts with opportunities to integrate into the community sustainably.

During the meeting, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Thi Hai Chuyen expressed hope that each individual in the community would volunteer to assist drug addicts.

Statistics showed that by the end of 2014, Vietnam had 204,377 drug addicts, mostly young people. As many as 76 percent of the addicts are under 35 years old.-VNA