The conference is an important forum for policy makers, experts in detoxification and people who have managed to give up drugs to discuss and share their experiences on the detoxification progress of drug addicts.

The conference also helped to strengthen cooperation and coordination between countries in an effort to make the region a drug free zone.

By taking part in the conference, Vietnam expects to learn from anti-drug solutions adopted by Malaysia and other countries in Asia. Vietnam is planning to include an anti-drug programme in college and university curriculums.

On addressing the event, Malaysia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, said that the threat of drugs in the world is evident through the increasing number of drug addicts, people infected with HIV/AIDS and other social problems.

Every year there are about 208 million drug addicts, accounting for 4.8 percent of the global population. More alarmingly, the number of drug addicts needing treatment rose from 1 million in 2007 to 26 million in 2008.