Law-makers hear revisions on drug law

Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh made the call while presenting the ministry’s drug law revisions and supplements to legislators at the NA’s third session in Hanoi o­n May 8.

The drug watchdog is demanding highly specific regulations concerning the responsibilities of agencies, organisations and individuals involved in the fight against drugs.

It also asks legislators to focus o­n the reintegration of former drug addicts in the communities.

The ministry proposes a new supplement o­n principles and intervention measures to reduce the impact of drug abuse, saying drugs have become the root of social disorder, crime and a surge in HIV/AIDS in the country.

The ministry reported that there were 76,000 drug-related cases with close to 120,000 people involved from 2001, the year after the Law o­n Drug Prevention and Combat was enacted, until last year.

More than 4,200 drug “hotspots” nationwide have been cleaned up and addictive drugs and substances are initially under control, the ministry said.

In the period, more than 200,000 drug users had also been helped to kick their habit, the ministry said, reporting that it has by the end of 2007 recorded 178,305 drug addicts.

The ministry also warns that drug-related criminals will try to bring more drugs into the country and forecasts a rise in the number of addicts, especially among adolescents and the unemployed, and in rural areas due to urbanisation.

“The drug menace has become a problem directly relating to security, and social order and safety,” the minister told legislators.

The law-makers will debate the submitted revisions and supplements, issues relating to addict detoxification and generating employment for former addicts during the week-end session before giving the nod o­n the issue.

Meanwhile, legislators heard Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh’s presentation o­n the bill o­n revisions and supplements to articles of the Law o­n Officers of the Vietnam People’s Army.

They also heard from Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Nguyen Kim Ngan, the results from trial management and vocational training for former drug users in Ho Chi Minh City and other localities.