Determined to 'clean up drugs' in the largest district in Vietnam

After 6 months of implementation, with the synchronous and drastic participation and mobilization of the strength of the entire political system, the set goals were basically achieved.

16/17 communes are basically drug-free

Coming to Xa Luong commune - an area bordering Luu Kien commune, Luong Minh commune and Thach Giam town, it is easy to see that when strangers appear, the villagers no longer look at them with suspicion like when there were still drug addicts in the area. Captain Vi Manh Cuong - Head of Xa Luong Commune Police said: Since the implementation of Directive No. 08, the force has caught 5 cases, 5 subjects for acts of storing and illegally trading drugs, thereby eliminating 1 retail point in Lo village, Xa Luong commune. Along with that, records were made to send 25 subjects to compulsory drug rehabilitation at drug rehabilitation facilities, 9 subjects to community rehabilitation.

Identifying the important role of propaganda work, Xa Luong Commune Police have also proactively advised local Party committees and authorities to constantly innovate the content of propaganda work on the evils and harmful effects of drugs, focusing on union members, youth, and students. The functional forces also directly go to each household, individually mobilizing families with children and family members addicted or suspected of being addicted to drugs. Thereby, organizing 100% of households to sign a commitment not to store, buy, sell, or illegally transport drugs... With that approach, as of March 2023, Xa Luong Commune basically ensures the criteria of a clean commune in terms of drugs and continues to maintain and uphold the criteria to this day.

In Yen Na commune, which is adjacent to drug-related communes such as Luong Minh commune and Yen Hoa commune, it is very susceptible to drug influence and infiltration; outsiders can lure and connect with some people, establish drug buying, selling, and illegal transit lines through the area; leading to an increase in the number of addicts due to the close and easily accessible supply source. Accordingly, along with creating records to send the subjects to drug rehabilitation, Yen Na commune police have proactively advised local Party committees and authorities to organize 1,148/1,148 households in the area to pledge not to participate in crime, drug abuse, and voluntarily cooperate with functional forces in drug prevention and control; 7/7 villages have crime reporting mailboxes, and publicly posted hotline phone numbers of functional forces in drug crime prevention and control. At the same time, build and effectively maintain 2 models of crime prevention and drug abuse in the whole commune, including the "Drug-free village" model in Co Phao village and a typical model of community reintegration for successful drug addiction treatment.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Vi Van May - Head of Yen Na Commune Police, those who have successfully quit drug addiction such as Vi Van Tinh, Lu Phan Khoi, Luong May Tinh, who are members of the typical model of community reintegration, have become "real people, real work" propagandists, bringing high efficiency in propaganda work. According to Mr. Lo Van Tung - Secretary of Yen Na Commune Party Committee: The commune has organized 2 meetings with 12 prestigious people in the clan, village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people in the community to form a network of propagandists. "Each clan has included contents related to drug prevention and control in the conventions and village regulations. Therefore, when a suspected addict is discovered in the clan, the police are called immediately to check," said Mr. Tung.

Up to this point, in Tuong Duong district, in addition to 4 border communes that are clean of drugs, including: Tam Quang, Tam Hop, Mai Son, Nhon Mai, there are 12 more communes and towns that are basically clean of drugs, except for Luong Minh commune.

“Clean” is associated with “keep clean”

To achieve the above results, according to Lieutenant Colonel Pham Ngoc Canh - Head of Tuong Duong District Police: Identifying propaganda work as one of the key tasks, Tuong Duong District Police coordinated with branches, Party committees, and local authorities to organize more than 500 propaganda sessions, with more than 15,000 students, cadres, party members, and people participating in 146 villages and 58 schools.

At the same time, the "Drug-free Commune" model was launched in communes and towns, 33 "Drug-free" village models. 39 meetings were held with village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people in drug prevention and control in the area; more than 100 forums were organized for "Police listening to people's opinions" with nearly 7,000 participants, with over 300 opinions and reflections, and 59 denunciations of drug-related crimes were received; 100% of households pledged not to participate in social evils or violate drug laws. In addition, in more than 6 months of implementing Directive 08 (from December 5, 2022 to June 15, 2023), the force detected and arrested 82 cases, 84 subjects, seized 795.81 grams of heroin, 10,954 pink pills, and 3.1 kg of crystal meth. Prepared records for 163 subjects to undergo compulsory drug rehabilitation, 47 subjects to undergo community-based drug rehabilitation, and 10 subjects to treat opioid addiction with Methadone replacement therapy.

Along with the solutions to propagate and fight against drugs, Tuong Duong district pays special attention to supporting production development, vocational training, job creation, and social security to improve people's lives. Among them, there is a program to support the construction of 602 houses for poor households implemented by the Ministry of Public Security and Nghe An Police, associated with the project and resolution "Drug-free communes and towns".

Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Secretary of Tuong Duong District Party Committee said: Tuong Duong district is identified as a special area, 100% forest and mountains, large and rugged area (with a total natural area of ​​2,811 km2).², is the largest district-level administrative unit in the country). In particular, some villages are located in mountainous areas, with only one road... making it difficult to "keep clean" of drugs. Along with accelerating the progress of "cleaning up" drugs in the remaining communes in 2023, the district directed to strengthen propaganda and communication work on drug prevention and control in the localities in conjunction with promoting the effectiveness of the models "Drug-free communes and towns", "Drug-free villages"... Thereby, raising people's awareness in preventing crimes and drug-related evils. Mobilizing and socializing the construction of more houses for poor households and households with housing difficulties, gradually improving the material and spiritual life of people in the area, contributing to "keeping clean" of drugs, stabilizing the security and order situation in the area.

At the same time, the District Steering Committee determined: Strengthen the fight to eradicate complicated spots and drug retail points in the district, in which priority is given to implementing professional measures in areas registered for "cleaning" in 2023. For commune-level areas that have been cleared of drugs, priority is given to strengthening post-rehabilitation management solutions and community reintegration to "keep the area clean". For areas that are being "cleaned", strengthen coordination in establishing drug rehabilitation records, in which priority is given to establishing compulsory drug rehabilitation records and closely managing and monitoring the number of cases undergoing community-based drug rehabilitation and drug substitution treatment in the area...