Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong said the success in uncovering numerous drug trafficking cases has proven that Vietnam is not a transshipment and shelter for narcotic substance.
During a regular meeting of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control, which took place in Hanoi on July 23, the Deputy PM also said the pilot methadone-based detoxification programme at localities have initially paid off.
Trong asked for the duplication of successful detoxification models and permitted Hanoi to use methadone in detoxifying drug users on a trial basis after this method has been applied in Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City .
He also requested for strengthened surveillance to prevent drug abuse and opium poppy cultivation and for boosted vocational training for former drug users to help them reintegrate into the community.
In the first six months of this year, police have uncovered 6,340 drug cases, arresting nearly 9,330 people involved, an increase of 2,054 cases and 3,045 people involved over the same period last year.
By the end of June, Vietnam had had 169,000 names in the list of managed drug users and it had also conducted investigation into nearly 7,000 drug cases, with nearly 9,580 suspects.
The planting of opium poppy has been increasing not only in the mountainous areas but also in cities like Hanoi and Hai Phong.
Reports released at the meeting also showed that the number of HIV carriers dropped by 16 percent from the same period last year, that of AIDS patients by 44 percent and AIDS fatalities by 27 percent.
The Ministry of Public Health has conducted various activities to control HIV/AIDS, including injection needle and condom distribution along with a programme to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.-Enditem
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