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

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a directive on intensifying drug prevention, control and detoxification with the target to reduce the supply, demand and impacts of drugs.

In Directive 25/CT-TTg, the Government leader requested Ministers and head of ministry-level agencies to consider the battle against drug crime and drug detoxification work a key, urgent and uninterrupted task.

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

The PM also instructed intensifying education drives on drug crime combat and drug detoxification to attract the involvement of all people in this work, 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 management of drug addicts and detoxification, and assess and multiply effective detoxification models.

The Ministries of Public Security and Defence were required to reinforce the fight against the crime, especially along the border line.

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

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

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