PM urges stronger drug prevention effort

The PM asked for campaigns to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of drugs, especially methaphetamine, cannabis and new psychotropic drugs.

The Ministry of Information and Communications was asked to direct mobile and internet service suppliers to spread information related to drug prevention to their customers, while eliminating illegal drug marketing on the internet.

Vietnam Television, the Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency and other press agencies were urged to increase the frequency of content on drug prevention.

The Ministry of Public Security ought to focus on cracking down on major drug trafficking rings in domestic hot-spots, while strictly dealing with people abusing the Internet to showcase, sell, and encourage drug use.

The Defence and Finance Ministries should work with the Ministry of Public Security to prevent drugs from entering the country via international border gates, seaports and airports.

The Ministries of Health and Industry and Trade are responsible for managing addictive medicines in the pharmaceutical market.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is to direct localities to renovate detoxification work, and improve detoxification centres.

The PM also requested the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the Supreme People’s Court and people’s courts at all levels to collaborate with police to speed up the investigation, prosecution and trial of drug cases.

2015 marked the first year in more than two decades that the number of drug addicts in Vietnam decreased by more than 4,000 compared to the previous year.

As of January 2016, there were about 200,000 drug addicts in the country.