Hanoi's authorities have taken action together with the Ministry of Public Security in response to the action month for drug prevention and control and the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking [June 26].

This year’s action month themed “Improving the effectiveness of drug addiction treatment and managing illegal drug users - For a healthy and safe community” is aimed to create a strong effect on people across the country and synergy to gradually reduce the number of addicts.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam urged stronger actions against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, asking for wide and deep information dissemination on the harmful consequences of taking drugs.

“We should particularly disseminate harmful consequences of taking drugs different kinds of methamphetamine, to help raise public awareness about the issue, with a focus on new kinds of drugs which tend to spread among the youth,” Dam stressed.

He asked the Ministry of Public Security to guide relevant forces to speed up investigations and crack down on drug trafficking rings, and strictly punish those who sell or encourage the use of drugs via the internet and social networks.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and delegates are committed to join hands in drug prevention and control. Photo: Huy Kien

The Deputy PM also emphasized the need to support the specialized forces in drug prevention and control; and called on the joint efforts made by the whole political system and especially the participation of social organizations, the community and people in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

“Concrete measures must be deployed to wipe out drug threats at schools and in society. Besides, drug prevention and control should be done regularly and that each individual should be provided with knowledge on how to stay away from or combat drugs,” Dam said.

For his part, Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc, deputy minister of Public Security, said crime and drug abuse have become a deep concern in the whole country, adding that consequences caused by drugs are very heavy in terms of economy, politics, culture, society, security and order, threatening people’s peaceful and happy life.

“Notably, transnational drug crimes have shown signs of complication again after the Covid-19 pandemic. Drug addicts and illegal drug users are increasing in some localities,” Ngoc said.

He cited his ministry’s statistics that there are currently more than 217,000 drug addicts nationwide and nearly 60,000 people who are illegally using drugs.

“This is a huge source for drug consumption and tends to increase year by year, which is a potential risk of causing insecurity and disorder among the people,” the deputy minister stressed.

He asked the Steering Committees for Drug Prevention and Control at all levels and localities to pay attention to carrying out key contents to successfully achieve the goal of “reducing supply, demand and harmful effects of drugs” in the coming time, contributing to building a safe and healthy social environment.

Shin Umezu, head of the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Vietnam, said that the UN has always been committed to providing care and support to those affected by illegal drugs.

Everyone has a role to play in this process, from government agencies to social organizations and individuals. In addition, people need to promote programs to support family skills to prevent negative behaviors, such as drug use in children and adolescents, Shin Umezu stressed.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is marked on June 26 every year to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse.