Prime Minister requires localities to grasp the list of 'stoned' people

“Comrades need to do well in this important field of work, not just focus on the economy. A family with one addict will make the whole family poor and miserable,” said the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs a national online conference on drug prevention and drug addiction treatment. Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

On the afternoon of December 23, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a national online conference on drug prevention and drug addiction treatment.

Attending the event were Deputy Prime Ministers Truong Hoa Binh and Vu Duc Dam, leaders of ministries, branches, members of the Steering Committee for Crime Prevention, the National Committee for AIDS Prevention and Control, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control, and 63 provinces and cities across the country.

Nationwide more than 210,000 addicts

According to the report of the Ministry of Public Security, the situation of crime and drug abuse has many complex and unpredictable factors. On the Northwestern and North Central border, the authorities regularly detect drug trafficking lines into the country in large quantities. Notably, the situation of transporting synthetic drugs from Laos to Vietnam is increasing rapidly, 4.6 times higher than the same period in 2015.

The situation of buying and selling and transporting synthetic drugs in the form of "ice" continues to increase. In Hanoi, the number of synthetic drug cases seized accounts for 55.8% of the total number of cases. The situation of buying and selling some highly harmful psychoactive substances with names such as "American Grass", "Happy Water", "Paper Stamps", "Tongue Charm" ... has increased in many localities. On December 22, 2016, in Tay Mo ward, Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi, Thach Van Hao, 60 years old, was arrested, confiscating over 10 kg of crystal meth along with many exhibits and means of drug production.

Regarding drug addiction treatment, according to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the country has 210,751 drug addicts with management records, an increase of 10,617 people compared to 2015.

In the 3 years 2014-2016, the whole country organized drug addiction treatment for 66,552 students.

Some delegates said that drug addiction treatment has not received due attention in the past, and that the spirit of considering drug addiction as a disease has not been thoroughly understood, and from there, treatment services have not been provided. Therefore, many drug addiction treatment facilities have degraded and overloaded facilities.

To determine addiction status, drug addicts must stay at a medical facility to monitor withdrawal symptoms for 3 days for opioid addicts and 5 days for synthetic drug addicts, but currently there is no legal basis to keep people for more than 24 hours for monitoring and diagnosis.

There is no effective solution to manage drug addicts and synthetic drug users, especially those who use synthetic drugs with symptoms of "stonedness" (psychotic behavior, paranoia).

National online conference on drug prevention and drug addiction treatment. Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

If you are careless, it will spread to become a hot spot.

Appreciating the results of drug prevention work, the Prime Minister said that without the drastic participation of the political system, especially the many officers and soldiers who sacrificed themselves, braved the rain and sun to detect and handle drug cases, and without continuous direction, the drug situation would be much worse when Vietnam is located near the "Golden Triangle", many drug gangs want to turn Vietnam into a drug transit point.

However, stating the main reason for convening the conference today, the Prime Minister said, “We see that the recent situation is very complicated, especially the appearance of some new types of drugs in Vietnam, causing unpredictable consequences”. In addition, there is a situation where some localities are neglecting this important work, which, according to the Prime Minister, if not directed resolutely, synchronously, and continuously, will spread very quickly, accordingly, drugs will be sold everywhere, the number of addicts and people with HIV/AIDS will increase.

The Prime Minister emphasized that drug crimes and drug abuse are pressing social issues with serious consequences, so the entire political system, family, community and society must resolutely fight, prevent and repel them, contributing to ensuring security, order and social safety, to bring happiness and quality to the race.

Regarding awareness, the Prime Minister emphasized that it is necessary to clearly identify drug prevention and drug addiction treatment as a key task, both urgent, regular, continuous, and long-term, and must be under the direct direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels, with close coordination between agencies, departments, and sectors, and the participation of the majority of people. Propaganda work must be promoted in the direction of helping people fight drug crimes while preventing the harmful effects of drugs.

Regarding institutions, focus on improving the direction of drug prevention, control and drug addiction treatment work to be innovative, focusing on the grassroots and community to mobilize social resources and serve society. Consider drug prevention work as the work of the whole people, consider drug addiction as a disease that needs to be treated.

Regarding resources, each locality needs to have a budget estimate as well as find other legal resources to serve this work. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance must continue to find resources and allocate additional resources with focus, key points, and effectiveness for drug prevention and control work.

Requiring to enhance the responsibility of leaders, the Prime Minister emphasized that it is necessary to achieve the goal of "3 reductions": Reducing supply, reducing demand, and reducing harm.

The People's Committees of provinces and cities must complete the conversion of Social Labor Treatment and Education Centers into addiction treatment facilities, no later than the first quarter of 2017.

The Ministry of Public Security and functional forces such as border guards, coast guard, customs, and aviation security must intensify their attacks and suppression of drug crimes. Summarize the case of crystal meth production in Hanoi to come up with specific methods of combat. Prosecute and strictly punish the ringleaders.

Don't let "stoned" people endanger people

The Ministry of Health controls narcotics and drug precursors, accelerates research and application of treatment methods for disorders caused by synthetic drug use and addiction to control meth addiction, which causes negative consequences for society.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Security strengthen Methadone treatment in the community and in prisons.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs expands community-based drug rehabilitation using Vietnamese-produced and licensed drugs such as Cedemex.

In the face of a number of tragic murder cases caused by "stoned" drugs recently, the Prime Minister requested that localities must have a list of "stoned" people to avoid endangering people.

The Prime Minister requested that People's Courts at all levels strictly try drug criminals according to the law to deter drug crimes.

Press agencies need to have articles, columns, special pages, and video clips to propagate and raise public awareness about this issue.

After this conference, the Prime Minister said he would issue a directive on strengthening drug prevention and drug addiction treatment.

“Comrades need to do well in this important area of ​​work, not just focus on the economy. A family with one addict will make the whole family poor and miserable. We need to clearly understand this to have strong determination, not ignore these very specific things because of “big jobs and big things”, the Prime Minister expressed.

According to Chinhphu.vn