Resolution No. 06/CP on Strengthening Guidance for Work on Prevention, Combating, and Controlling Narcotics

RESOLUTION

On Strengthening Guidance for Work on Prevention, Control, and Supervision of Narcotics.

Currently, in our country, the problem of drug addiction, injection, trafficking, and smuggling is increasing. This evil is contrary to the traditional ethics of the nation, has a very negative impact on economic development, causes great harm to the health of a portion of the population, adversely affects the national race, and leaves serious consequences for future generations.

This is a concern and worry for the entire society. It is necessary to firmly combat this evil through measures such as propaganda, mobilization, education, economic measures, administrative handling, and criminal prosecution.

1. The following policies and measures need to be implemented:

a) Widespread propaganda should be conducted so that everyone, especially young people, understands the consequences and harms of the narcotics evil. Education should raise awareness about the activities of reactionary elements and smugglers who aim to incite, divide, slander, and distort the Party and State's policies regarding opium. Incorporate the issue of preventing drug addiction into educational programs at general schools, vocational high schools, and universities.

b) Mobilize and persuade mountainous ethnic groups to completely stop growing opium and switch to other crops. Research suitable alternative crops based on soil conditions, climate, farming practices, and market demand for products in each region. Ensure income levels similar to those from growing opium. If income drops significantly in the initial years of changing production direction, the State will provide assistance to ensure the livelihood of the ethnic groups, implementing specific policies such as providing food, interest-free loans, or purchasing products at a loss-making price to help the ethnic groups transition their production.

c) Strictly control the transportation and circulation of narcotics throughout the territory, particularly in opium-growing areas, border regions, ports, seaports, international airports, intensify the struggle against all acts of producing, transporting, storing, and selling narcotics. Destroy opium and other narcotic products seized.

Strengthen international cooperation in the field of narcotics control based on ensuring principles consistent with domestic laws and the United Nations' international conventions on narcotics.

d) For organizations and places where drugs are injected, smoked, or consumed, they must be inspected and immediately eliminated. Severely punish the leaders of these places according to the Criminal Code.

đ) For drug addicts, organize compulsory detoxification programs for opium and other drugs as stipulated in Article 29 of the Law on Protecting the Health of the People. Depending on the actual situation and type of addict, apply detoxification methods at state medical centers, private healthcare facilities, or home detoxification, while also providing vocational training, job creation, and addressing related social issues.

2. Regarding the organization and guidance for work on prevention, control, and supervision of narcotics:

a) Establish a national program for the prevention, control, and supervision of narcotics as a comprehensive program with clear objectives, including the following main contents:

- Conduct basic investigations and analyze the current status of narcotics in Vietnam.

- Guide and implement policies to change production directions in areas where ethnic groups currently grow opium.

- Organize detoxification, treatment, and implement vocational training and job creation measures for drug addicts.

- Implement measures to strengthen supervision over the production, storage, sale, and transportation of narcotics and handle opium and other narcotic products seized.

- Develop legal regulations on combating narcotics.

- Organize international cooperation in the field of combating narcotics.

b) Establish a National Program Steering Committee responsible for guiding, inspecting, and urging relevant departments and localities to implement the aforementioned program for the prevention, control, and supervision of narcotics.

The National Program Steering Committee is an inter-ministerial body headed by the Minister in charge of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, with Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Health serving as deputy heads; representatives from relevant ministries, general administrations, the Communist Youth Union, and the Vietnam Women's Union serve as members.

Each province and centrally-administered city shall establish a steering committee for the prevention, control, and supervision of narcotics to assist the Chairman of the People's Committee in implementing the National Program for the prevention, control, and supervision of narcotics locally.

3. Allocation of responsibilities in the fight against the narcotics evil:

- The Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas is the lead agency, responsible for coordinating activities under the national program for the prevention, control, and supervision of narcotics, directly organizing the implementation of the "production shift plan away from opium cultivation combined with opium smoking cessation" according to Decision No. 69-CT dated March 4, 1992 of the Council of Ministers and the project "building a comprehensive plan for narcotics control in Vietnam" VIE/92/660.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the Ministry of Forestry shall coordinate with scientific agencies to guide the shift to alternative crops instead of poppy.

- The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall direct the organization of detoxification and address social issues after detoxification.

- The Ministry of Health shall be responsible for determining types of drugs and methods of detoxification, managing the use of opium and other narcotics in pharmaceutical production and scientific research as prescribed by the State.

- The Ministry of Interior, the General Customs Department shall be responsible for directing inspections and controls over the transportation, sale, storage, and illegal use of opium and other narcotics throughout the territory.

- The Ministry of Culture and Information shall direct extensive propaganda and education among various strata of the population on policies and measures to combat the narcotics evil.

- The Ministry of Education and Training shall direct propaganda and education in schools on knowledge of prevention and the harms of narcotics.

- The Ministry of Justice shall head the study of laws concerning narcotics; prepare documents for Vietnam's ratification of the United Nations' international conventions on narcotics.

- The People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are responsible for directing all aspects of prevention, combating, and controlling narcotics in their respective localities.

The Steering Committee of the Narcotics Prevention Program, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and local people's committees need to closely coordinate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and people's organizations in propaganda campaigns and specific activities, making the prevention, combating, and control of narcotics the responsibility of each citizen, and strongly and effectively fighting this social evil.