By the end of September 2014, Vietnam had more than 204,000 drug addicts, four times higher than the figure reported two decades ago.

The figure was released at a conference held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) in Hanoi on November 14 to honour individuals and organizations in recognition of their remarkable contributions to drug detoxification, providing job training and employment for former drug addicts and help them reintegrate into the community.

MoLISA Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Dam said drug addicts are found in all provinces and cities across the country. They include State employees, workers, and students.

MoLISA has cooperated with many relevant ministries, agencies and localities to draw up action plans on providing assistance and intensifying management on former drug users, with a focus on detoxification, vocational training and job creation, Dam said.

He added that many drug users failed to kick their habit, so the rate of relapse continued to rise in many provinces and cities.

Delegates at the conference shared experience in drug detoxification and providing jobs for former drug users to help reintegrate better into the community.

VOV/VNN