Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam voiced his hope for continued support from the United Nations and its International Narcotics Control Board in the combat against drugs at his reception in Hanoi on April 5 for the board’s Vice President Jagjit Pavadia.

Drug addicts receive methadone treatment

Dam told his guest that the Vietnamese Government has given priority to drug prevention and seen positive results in this fight.

The year 2015 marked the first year in over 20 years that the number of drug addicts in Vietnam reduced by more than 4,000 compared with the previous year. As of January 2016, there were around 200,000 drug addicts in the country, he noted.

However, a lot of new drugs are increasing their presence in Vietnam, while the efficiency of detoxification for addicts remains low, he added.

As such, in 2016 and for the following years, Vietnam will focus on preventing narcotic supplies, eliminate drug hotspots, and intensifying methadone treatment.

Speaking highly of Vietnam’s achievements in this fight, Jagjit Pavadia affirmed that her board and the UN will mobilise different resources to help Vietnam through communications campaigns, policy consultancy, and in improving the legal system.

VNA