Implementation of the Action Month for drug prevention and control in 2024 in Vietnam

Implementation of the Action Month for drug prevention and control in 2024 in Vietnam​ (image from the Internet)

Implementation of the Action Month for drug prevention and control in 2024 in Vietnam

Responding to the Action Month for drug prevention and control (June), International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and National Day against Drug Abuse (June 26), Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the National Committee on AIDS, Drug, and Prostitution Prevention (National Committee) requests Ministries, member agencies of the National Committee, and People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities to direct the implementation of the Action Month for drug prevention and control from June 01 to June 30, 2024, with the theme "Joining hands to build drug-free communes."

The tasks are assigned as follows:

(1) Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam: Launch a peak offensive to crack down on drug-related crimes nationwide. Focus on fighting and eliminating complex drug hotspots in communes;

Investigate and dismantle drug trafficking and transportation organizations and networks, interprovincially and transnationally; dismantle entire networks, capturing from the ringleaders to retail distributors. Enhance the coordination effectiveness among specialized drug prevention forces; exchange information, collaborate in joint specialized cases ensuring consistency and continuity.

Direct local police to review, compile statistics, analyze, and assess the situation of drug addicts and illegal drug users, particularly those showing signs of psychosis and “ice-induced insanity”;

Propose strict management plans, especially in key, complex areas with large concentrations of workers, industrial parks, export processing zones, large urban construction projects... continue effectively implementing the identification of addiction status, drafting records to apply suitable rehabilitation measures.

Lead, cooperate with relevant ministries, central and local authorities to organize activities to respond to the Action Month for drug prevention and control, International Day against Drug Abuse and National Day against Drug Abuse.

Develop criteria and organize reviews, evaluations of drug-free commune, district, and provincial models at localities to disseminate, replicate ensuring effectiveness, consistency, and unification.

Proactively orient information, closely collaborate with relevant ministries, central and local authorities, and press and media agencies to intensify drug prevention propaganda activities, ensuring efficiency and practicality; focus on enhancing drug prevention propaganda activities at grassroots levels.

Lead and cooperate with Ministries of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs, Health, Planning and Investment, Finance, and other relevant ministries and agencies to focus on consulting, developing the national target program on drug prevention until 2030, ensuring quality and progress.

(2) Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Finance of Vietnam: Direct functional forces to closely coordinate promptly with the police force to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and networks on land border lines, at sea, border gates, aviation, international postal services, and express delivery.

Step up propaganda to raise legal awareness of drug prevention among border residents, at border gate areas, and fishermen in key sea areas.

(3) Ministry of Labour - War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam: Promote the implementation of the project “Improving the effectiveness of drug rehabilitation and drug addiction prevention” for high-risk groups and illegal drug users.

Review, replicate effective rehabilitation support models, create conditions to connect drug addicts and illegal drug users with services right in the community...

(4) Ministry of Health: Organize training to improve the capacity of health officers in identifying addiction status, especially at commune health stations; closely coordinate with the police force to enhance the identification of addiction status at localities.

Direct and organize propaganda and legal training activities on drug prevention as per the functions and tasks of the Health sector.

(5) Ministry of Information and Communications: Direct press agencies, basic information systems, and telecommunications to increase the duration and frequency of information and propaganda on drug prevention; develop materials, documents, video clips conveying drug prevention messages.

Lead and cooperate with the Ministry of Public Security to request mobile telecommunications enterprises to send drug prevention propaganda messages to mobile subscribers nationwide.

(6) Ministry of Education and Training, Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Vietnam General Confederation of Labour: Direct the organization of drug prevention propaganda activities for officers, union members, students, workers, focusing on propaganda about the consequences and harms of drugs; methods of enticing and persuading young people to use drugs, especially synthetic drugs and drugs "disguised" as foods such as candies, drinks, herbs, e-cigarettes, and preventive, blockade solutions.

Enhance coordination between the Ministry of Public Security and the Central Youth Union to implement the Decision 140/QD-TTg dated February 2, 2024, of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam, issuing the youth drug prevention program until 2030.

(7) Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency and press agencies: Intensify information and propaganda on drug prevention; study and develop special pages, sections, sub-sections, propaganda series, and suitable propaganda messages on drug prevention;

Increase broadcasting duration and frequency during prime viewing hours for programs propagating drug prevention laws, drug harms, exemplary cases, effective drug prevention and rehabilitation models, effective drug-free commune, district models at localities...

(8) Propose the Supreme People's Procuracy, Supreme People's Court: Direct close coordination with investigative agencies at all levels of the Ministry of Public Security to speed up the investigation, prosecution, and trial of major, serious cases attracting social attention. Organize some point trials and mobile trials at grassroots levels to propagate and prevent drug crimes.

**(9) Ministries, member agencies of the National Committee shall further promote their roles, responsibilities, and improve the effectiveness of coordination in drug prevention as per their assigned functions and tasks. Implement decisively and effectively the key tasks and assigned contents in the 2024 work program of the National Committee (Notification 47/TB-VPCP dated February 7, 2024, of the Government Office of Vietnam).

(10) People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities:

Organize activities to respond to the Action Month for drug prevention and control, International Day, and National Day against Drug Abuse suitable to the actual situation of localities.

Direct to intensify drug prevention propaganda activities to each neighborhood, household, and directly in residential communities, especially key areas, crowded places, industrial parks, export zones, major urban project areas, high-risk groups, youth, students...

Implement decisive solutions to transform “drug-free communes”, striving towards the goal of “drug-free districts, drug-free provinces”.

Direct and guide voluntary drug rehabilitation at family and community levels; promptly allocate resources and funding for drug prevention and rehabilitation...

Direct specialized forces, mainly the police force, to resolutely fight drug crimes, eliminate complex drug hotspots; strictly control legal activities related to drugs.

Review and provide effective management solutions for conditional business sectors to prevent exploitation for drug-related crimes. Inspect and destroy areas of drug-containing plant cultivation or re-cultivation.

Direct functional agencies to closely coordinate with the police force to review, compile statistics, and accurately assess the situation of drug addicts and illegal drug users for effective management, especially those showing signs of psychosis and "ice-induced insanity", ensuring that these individuals do not engage in public disorder incidents.

Nguyen Kim Thuy Vi

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