Hanoi (VNA) – A meeting in response to the actionmonth for drug control and prevention 2018 took place in Hanoi on June 16,gathering a large number of students.

The event saw the attendance of representatives from the UNOffice on Drugs and Crime, the Vietnam National Committee for Prevention andControl of AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution, and leaders of different ministries.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam,said the Government selected “protecting young generations against drugthreats” as the theme of the action month this year.

He requested ministries, sectors and localities focus onimproving their anti-drug work and increasing communications campaignstargeting young people.

Police should keep an eye on students with suspiciousactions related to drugs to promptly inform their schools for earlyintervention, and clean up areas around schools and dormitories.

The Deputy PM called on students to stay away from drug.

He recommended the Ministry of Information andCommunications and news agencies increase their coverage and special programmeson drug prevention.

According to the Vietnam National Committee for Preventionand Control of AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution, there are about 2,300 drug hotspotacross the country.

Reports from localities showed that as of November 15, 2017,the number of documented drug addicts was 22,582, up 11,831 people from 2016.Between 2017 and March 2018, 13 ha of opium poppy plantation were discoveredand destroyed.

In 2017, police investigated 22,346 drug cases, arrested34,494 suspects, and seized 906.7 kg of heroin and 979.487 synthetic drug pills,among other drugs.-VNA