Decision No. 49/2005/QĐ-TTg on approving the "Comprehensive Plan for Preventing and Combating Drug Abuse until 2010"

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Regarding the approval of the "Comprehensive Plan for Preventing and Combating Drug Abuse until 2010"

_____________________________

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Prevention and Control of Drugs dated December 9, 2000;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Public Security,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approve the "Comprehensive Plan for Preventing and Combating Drug Abuse until 2010" with the following main contents:

1. Objectives

Enhance public awareness throughout society about drugs, drug abuse, and anti-drug efforts; prevent and curb drug abuse to basically eliminate drug-related social evils nationwide by 2015, contributing to healthy societal development and ensuring political security and social order and safety; simultaneously actively participate in the fight against drug abuse at regional and global levels.

2. Tasks

a) Enhance people's understanding of the harms of drugs, encourage their proactive participation alongside communities in preventing and combating drug-related social evils.

b) Prevent, intercept, detect, and promptly handle illegal drug trafficking activities.

c) Prevent, detect, and thoroughly eradicate opium plants and other plants containing addictive substances; prevent the illegal circulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; strictly control precursor chemicals and prevent and stop the illegal production of drugs from precursors.

d) Contain the rate of new drug addiction, reduce the relapse rate, and strive to decrease the number of drug addicts by 20% to 30% compared to 2001 by 2010; ensure that 70% of communes, wards, and towns have no drug addicts or drug-related crimes; and ensure that 90% of agencies, enterprises, administrative units, public institutions, schools, and military units have no drug addicts.

đ) Diversify drug rehabilitation methods. Strive to have over 80% of drug addicts undergo rehabilitation at Social Rehabilitation Centers by 2010.

e) Prevent intravenous drug use, contributing to reducing HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases transmission; limit illegal acts committed by drug users.

Article 2. Main solutions:

1. Strengthen the leadership of Party committees and governments in anti-drug work; anti-drug tasks must be among the important tasks in the economic and social development strategy of each sector and locality. Mobilize the entire population to participate in anti-drug efforts, gradually curbing and eliminating drug-related social evils. Clearly define the responsibilities of Party committees, People's Councils, People's Committees at all levels, heads of agencies, units, schools, political and social organizations, and other social organizations in anti-drug work.

2. Synchronize various forms of information dissemination, extensive education on anti-drug tasks with appropriate content and formats for different target groups. Focus on disseminating in key areas, among young people, ethnic minorities, remote and border regions, and high-risk groups, creating a broad movement among the population to denounce, detect, report, and participate in the fight against drug abuse.

Strengthen direct communication activities; research, compile, and distribute materials on the harms of drugs, preventive measures and experiences in combating drug abuse; measures to prevent and combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases through intravenous drug use.

Leverage the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, political and social organizations, and other social organizations in anti-drug propaganda and education. Vigorously promote the mass movement "All People United for the Cause of Building a Cultural Life," "Building Families and Areas Free of Drug Addiction and Drug-Related Crimes." Anti-drug efforts should be a competition criterion in agencies, organizations, schools, businesses, etc.

3. Consolidate the quantity and quality of specialized forces in preventing and combating drug-related crimes. Emphasize intelligence gathering, effective investigation, and interception of drug trafficking across borders. Implement well the coordination regulations between police forces, Border Guard Forces, Coast Guard, and Customs in combating drug-related crimes in border areas, ports, at sea, especially in key areas and routes.

Closely cooperate with neighboring countries, ASEAN countries, and Mekong subregion countries in anti-drug efforts.

4. Strengthen domestic laws on preventing and combating drug-related crimes and illegal drug production. Enhance the enforcement capacity of specialized forces in preventing and combating drug-related crimes, ensuring sufficient investigative, detection, prevention, eradication, and arrest capabilities for drug criminals.

Implement comprehensive preventive and combat measures against drug-related crimes. Closely coordinate between police forces at all levels, particularly at commune, ward, and town levels, with corresponding agencies, organizations, families, and the whole society to promptly detect, prevent, and handle illegal acts committed by drug users, manage drug users within their jurisdiction and facilities.

Supplement and amend regulatory legal documents and specific provisions to strictly control production, export, import, transportation, distribution, storage, and use of precursor chemicals. Emphasize planning, licensing systems for precursor chemical business operations, reporting, inspection, supervision, and information exchange.

Combat, detect, prevent, and promptly dismantle illegal production, transportation, purchase, and sale of precursor chemicals for drug manufacturing. Simultaneously cooperate with neighboring countries' anti-drug forces in eliminating drug manufacturing bases in border areas.

Strictly manage and control permitted narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances circulating and used in healthcare and industry to prevent loss.

Annually organize intensive crackdown campaigns on criminal activities, eliminating illegal drug trading and usage points.

Continuously train and enhance the professional skills of anti-drug personnel at police, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs schools.

Enhance the capacity of drug testing facilities, particularly those under the Ministry of Public Security, to ensure their capability to conduct drug testing, manage, direct, and guide drug testing and precursor substance management in accordance with the law.

Prioritize investment in equipment, facilities, and specialized dogs for the prevention and combat of drug-related crimes.

Establish a statistical data system on drug prevention and control. Set up information systems and regulations for information exchange within each force and between specialized forces responsible for combating drug-related crimes nationwide.

Strengthen coordination among public security agencies, courts, and prosecution offices in the investigation, prosecution, and trial of drug-related cases to ensure timely and strict enforcement.

Closely cooperate with international and regional organizations and specialized agencies of other countries in the fight against drug-related crimes regarding information exchange, extradition, arrest of drug criminals, judicial assistance, and implementation of special operations against drugs on an international scale.

Reduce the rate of new drug addiction and improve the effectiveness of drug rehabilitation.

Regularly review and update the number of drug addicts to implement timely preventive measures against the emergence of new drug users.

Implement comprehensive measures to reduce drug supply and demand. Upgrade, renovate, and expand Drug Rehabilitation Centers to ensure rehabilitation for the majority of registered drug addicts, while also strengthening family and community-based rehabilitation efforts and preventing relapse into drug addiction.

Firmly handle, in accordance with the law, long-term drug addicts and those who repeatedly relapse into drug addiction.

Promote socialization of drug rehabilitation tasks. Emphasize family and community-based rehabilitation methods; encourage political and social organizations, social organizations, and private entities to organize rehabilitation for drug addicts.

Intensify research on drug issues, rehabilitation methods, and medications for drug addiction recovery, and health restoration for drug addicts. Train and enhance the professional skills of medical staff working in drug rehabilitation and treatment fields.

Incorporate drug rehabilitation and reintegration programs into local economic and social development plans.

Eradicate and replace drug-producing plants.

- Local authorities must closely coordinate with political and social organizations and social organizations at the grassroots level to identify and eradicate the cultivation of drug-producing plants. Combine mobilization, education, and publicity with administrative and criminal penalties for individuals involved in growing drug-producing plants.

- Continue to supplement and amend preferential policies, while integrating economic and social development programs, infrastructure development, cultural, social, healthcare, educational, and welfare programs to provide stable income sources, gradually improving the material and spiritual lives of people in areas implementing eradication and replacement of drug-producing plants.

Integrate the program to eradicate and replace drug-producing plants into local economic and social development programs.

Improve the legal framework for drug prevention and control.

Supplement and amend regulatory legal documents, issue guiding documents for the implementation of the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Law on Prevention and Control of Drugs, the Administrative Violation Handling Ordinance, and other relevant legal documents. Develop a complete and coherent legal framework to meet practical requirements for drug prevention and control and the enforcement of laws on drug prevention and control.

Issue supplementary and improved regulatory legal documents on precursor substance control, drug rehabilitation and functional recovery, and post-rehabilitation management of drug users.

Participate, sign, and implement international treaties on drug prevention and control. Amend and supplement certain provisions in the legal system to align with international treaties that Vietnam has signed or joined.

Improve the organizational structure for drug prevention and control.

Supplement and amend the operation regulations of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control to suit the new situation. Improve the Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control Steering Committees at central, departmental, agency, and mass organization levels from the central to local levels, especially at the grassroots level of communes, wards, and towns.

Enhance the state management capacity at all levels to effectively implement the Law on Prevention and Control of Drugs.

Consolidate and strengthen the capacity of specialized forces for drug prevention and control under the Public Security, Customs, Border Guard, and Coast Guard.

9. Strengthen international cooperation

Expand cooperation activities with United Nations drug prevention and crime-fighting agencies, international organizations, and countries in the region and worldwide, particularly neighboring countries, to learn from and share experiences, exchange information, and collaborate in investigating and arresting drug criminals, effectively preventing drugs from entering the country and enhancing international drug prevention and control efforts.

Seek international support in terms of experience, technology, equipment, and finance for drug prevention and control activities in Vietnam through technical assistance projects in priority areas (with attached appendices).

Article 3. Implementation

The Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and related agencies. Summarize, evaluate results, and draw lessons learned during the implementation of the Action Program on Drug Prevention and Control for the 2001-2005 period to effectively implement the Comprehensive Plan on Drug Prevention and Control until 2010.

Provincial People's Committees (Provincial People's Councils) direct, specify, and implement on the territory the Comprehensive Plan for Prevention and Control of Narcotics until 2010; proactively invest human resources, budget, and material infrastructure for prevention and control activities against narcotics, organize detoxification, manage, train skills, create employment, prevent relapse, and firmly reintegrate individuals post-detoxification back into society.

3. The Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible:

a) Guide the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Prevention and Control of Narcotics until 2010; take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees to inspect and supervise the implementation of the plan by ministries, sectors, and provinces within their assigned tasks and authorities.

b) Directly guide anti-narcotics agencies at all levels to strengthen the detection, investigation, prevention, and strict handling of individuals involved in illegal production and trafficking of narcotics; thoroughly eliminate illegal drug usage sites nationwide. Strictly control precursor chemicals that can be used to produce illicit drugs.

c) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and other relevant ministries and sectors to direct and organize detoxification for prisoners, inmates, and students serving sentences, undergoing rehabilitation, or studying in prisons, educational facilities, juvenile detention centers, temporary detention centers, and holding cells; carry out necessary procedures to admit drug users into community-based detoxification centers and centralized detoxification centers; manage individuals post-detoxification in the community.

4. The Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs:

a) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Health, Public Security, and other relevant ministries and sectors to research and develop mechanisms and policies regarding detoxification organizations and social issues post-detoxification.

b) Take the lead and coordinate with related agencies, organizations, and provincial People's Committees to establish and guide the implementation of regulations governing the operation of detoxification facilities and organizations.

c) Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Health, and provincial border committees to develop a project for detoxification in border areas and islands.

5. The Ministry of Health:

a) Lead the research on preventing and controlling drug addiction, manage and apply various types of detoxification medications, and guide the implementation of medical measures for detoxification; coordinate with the Ministries of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Public Security, and other relevant ministries and sectors to enhance investment in personnel and medical equipment for detoxification work.

b) Manage and control the use of addictive drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors used in pharmaceutical production and scientific research according to the law.

c) Lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Public Security, and other relevant ministries and sectors to direct and implement measures to reduce the harm of narcotics to public health, integrate measures to prevent HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases transmitted through drug injection.

6. The Ministry of National Defense:

a) Direct the Border Guard Command and the Maritime Police Bureau to lead and coordinate with specialized anti-narcotics forces to implement tasks of prevention and control of narcotics in border areas and at sea.

b) Lead and coordinate with the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and local People's Committees to promptly identify and eliminate the cultivation of narcotic-containing plants.

c) Lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and related agencies to study appropriate detoxification methods in border and island areas; coordinate with the Ministries of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Health, and provincial border committees to develop a detoxification project in border and island areas.

7. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism:

a) Lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and provincial People's Committees to direct information agencies at all levels to intensify information dissemination and propaganda about the harms of narcotics and preventive and control measures across the country, especially in remote, difficult, and high-risk areas for narcotics.

b) Integrate the Information and Propaganda Program for Prevention and Control of Narcotics into the Movement for "All People United to Build a Cultural Life" and other cultural and information programs.

8. The Ministry of Education and Training:

a) Lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees to organize and implement knowledge and skill training programs for prevention and control of narcotics in teacher training programs and school curricula.

b) Direct and implement measures to build drug-free schools.

c) Effectively implement the Project "Prevention and Control of Narcotics in Schools Phase 2004-2010."

9. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) Lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Committee for Ethnic Minorities to direct the elimination and replacement of narcotic-containing plants.

b) Develop and implement mechanisms and policies to support people in restructuring production to replace narcotic-containing plants.

10. The Ministry of Finance:

a) Direct the General Department of Customs to consolidate and improve specialized anti-narcotics organizations to ensure depth and sufficient capacity to detect and control narcotics at customs checkpoints and controlled areas according to the law.

b) Lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to allocate funds for prevention and control of narcotics from annual regular budgets of ministries, sectors, and localities according to the State Budget Law; monitor and supervise the use of narcotics prevention and control funds according to the law.

11. The Ministry of Planning and Investment:

a) Aggregate long-term and short-term plans, projects for prevention and control of narcotics developed by ministries, sectors, and related agencies to submit to the Government for inclusion in economic and social development plans.

b) Lead and coordinate with related agencies to develop mechanisms and policies to attract domestic and foreign capital.

c) Allocate domestic and foreign resources for the task of prevention and control of narcotics.

d) Evaluate the effectiveness of the Drug Prevention and Control Program, and at the same time coordinate with relevant agencies to propose to the Prime Minister issues of concern during the implementation of the overall plan for drug prevention and control until 2010.

12. Ministry of Justice Chair and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to complete the legal system and organize legal education and propaganda on drug prevention and control; coordinate with competent agencies to monitor and guide forensic identification work related to drug prevention and control.

13. Ministry of Industry promulgate the list and regulations governing precursor chemicals that can be easily misused for drug production.

14. Government Office assist the Prime Minister in coordinating and harmonizing the activities of ministries, sectors, and localities in implementing the drug prevention and control plan and integrated activities with HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs and prostitution prevention and control programs.

15. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chair and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to enhance international cooperation on drug prevention and control; implement international commitments on drug prevention and control that our country has joined.

16. Ministry of Home Affairs Chair and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and relevant ministries and sectors to study and build the organizational structure and staffing of anti-drug forces ensuring scientific and effective operation towards unification, specialization, and suitability with practical conditions in each area and the functions and tasks of each force.

17. Committee for Ethnic Minorities Chair and coordinate with the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Defense, and other relevant ministries and sectors and provincial People's Committees to integrate the program to eliminate or replace opium poppy cultivation with economic and social development programs in areas still growing or replanting opium poppy; coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities to direct and organize the implementation of drug prevention and control tasks in mountainous and ethnic minority regions.

18. Request the Supreme People's Procuracy and the Supreme People's Court to coordinate with the Ministries of Public Security, National Defense, Finance, and other relevant ministries and sectors in directing the intensification of investigation, prosecution, trial, and enforcement of sentences in drug-related cases.

19. Request the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and its member organizations to strengthen guidance on propaganda and education, and coordination in implementing preventive measures against drugs in communities, workers, civil servants, students, and college students; link drug prevention and control education with HIV/AIDS prevention and control, crime prevention, and the prevention of other social evils. Monitor the implementation of laws on drug prevention and control in their respective jurisdictions; proactively identify and recommend to competent authorities the handling of violations of drug prevention and control laws in their respective jurisdictions.

20. Ministries, sectors, government agencies, and provincial People's Committees have the responsibility to concretize and organize the implementation of the overall plan for drug prevention and control until 2010 according to their assigned functions and tasks. Regularly review, evaluate, and report to the Prime Minister the results of implementation quarterly; send copies to the Ministry of Public Security for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

Article 4. Funding for implementation

The budget for implementing the overall plan for drug prevention and control until 2010 will be mobilized from the central budget, local budgets, community contributions, and international aid.

The Ministry of Finance chairs and coordinates with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to allocate funds for drug prevention and control activities in the annual budgets of central ministries, sectors, and localities in accordance with the State Budget Law; based on actual circumstances, ministries, sectors, and localities should proactively allocate budgets for drug prevention and control work.

Funds for drug prevention and control must be managed and utilized effectively. The Ministry of Public Security coordinates with the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies to organize inspections and supervision of drug prevention and control fund usage in accordance with the law.

Article 5. The Standard Measurement Quality Control Department shall be responsible for organizing and guiding the implementation of the Regulations adopted herein.

Article 6. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees under the central government, and related agencies are responsible for enforcing this Decision./.