Addressing urgent issues in drug prevention

Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang presented the Report

On the morning of November 3, at the National Assembly House, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on the investment policy for the National Target Program on Drug Prevention and Control until 2030. Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh chaired the meeting.

Promoting combined strength to control, prevent and repel crime and drug abuse

Presenting the Report on the investment policy of the National Target Program on Drug Prevention and Control to 2030, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang said that the general goal of the Program is to promote the combined strength of the political system and the entire population to control, prevent and repel drug crimes and evils; aiming to reduce supply, reduce demand and reduce the harmful effects of drugs. Organize the prevention and combat of drug-related crimes early and from afar; do not let Vietnam become a place for drug production, transit and consumption; promote the application of science and technology and advanced equipment in the fight against drug crimes.

Ensure facilities and human resources, improve the quality and effectiveness of drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation; support medical and psychological interventions, and legal aid for drug addicts, illegal drug users, people participating in drug addiction treatment, post-drug addicts, and drug law violators eligible for legal aid. Gradually and sustainably reduce the number of drug addicts and illegal drug users; contribute to better care and protection of human rights; build a safe and healthy social environment, effectively serving the cause of economic and social development of the country.

Regarding solutions to implement the Program, the Minister of Public Security said that in terms of mechanisms and policies, there should be a specific mechanism in the management and organization of a number of activities, specifically: Direct support for provincial and district levels to build and implement models for organizing voluntary drug addiction treatment at home and in the community; directly build and organize pilot implementation of models for management, relapse prevention and support for community integration for post-rehabilitation drug addicts. Develop a specific mechanism on expenditure content and levels in the development and organization of model implementation, ensuring that it is consistent with the actual situation of drug addicts and post-rehabilitation drug addicts in localities.

Examining this content, Chairwoman of the Social Committee Nguyen Thuy Anh basically agreed with the necessity of submitting to the National Assembly for consideration and promulgation of a Resolution of the National Assembly on approving the investment policy of the National Target Program on drug prevention and control until 2030 with the political basis, legal basis and practical basis stated in the Submission.

Chairwoman of the Social Committee Nguyen Thuy Anh presented the Inspection Report.

The Social Committee recommends that the Government continue to review and evaluate the Program's suitability with the Drug Rehabilitation Network Plan to 2020 and orientation to 2030 and the planning system according to the provisions of the law on planning; analyze specific objectives and propose appropriate implementation solutions to ensure feasibility and effectiveness. Coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to continue reviewing, analyzing, evaluating, and clarifying the contents and activities of the target Programs to propose a mechanism for policy integration, integrating resources for contents and activities, ensuring savings and efficiency.

In addition, the Social Committee proposed clarifying solutions to ensure resources to meet the goals and targets set by the Program, the capital structure of component projects, the specific mechanism for allocating appropriate capital for localities with difficulties, those that have not yet balanced their budgets and those with complex drug problems; the basis for determining the ratio of central budget capital and local budget capital; the consistency between the Program's capital allocation and the state budget estimate, the state budget financial plan, and the medium-term public investment plan.

Arrange and mobilize appropriate capital resources to effectively implement the Program.

Discussing at the meeting, members of the National Assembly Standing Committee basically agreed with the necessity of investing in the Program based on the grounds stated in the Government's Submission to concretize Directive No. 36-CT/TW, dated August 16, 2019 of the Politburo on "strengthening and improving the effectiveness of drug prevention, control and combat", gradually institutionalizing and organizing implementation to bring the Party's guidelines, policies and the State's laws on drug prevention and control into life; contributing to ensuring social security, human security, protecting people's health, ensuring social order and safety, building a stable, safe and healthy environment; contributing to the successful implementation of strategic goals, planning and plans for sustainable socio-economic development of the country.

Participating in the discussion at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh said that drug prevention is a very important task, because drugs are the source of many social evils and dangerous crimes. Moreover, they also affect the race, social security, and the overall development of the whole country. Currently, there are many types and forms of drugs, including very new, difficult to control, and very dangerous types. However, the proposed capital for this National Target Program is still limited, and it needs to be carefully considered and calculated to be used appropriately, and spent on really important tasks, ensuring great efficiency.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh speaks

In addition, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly said that it is necessary to promptly review the difficulties, inadequacies and overlaps between relevant legal documents, especially the Law on Drug Prevention and Control, the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations and circulars and decrees of ministries to ensure consistency and uniformity, helping drug prevention and control work to be carried out smoothly and consistently.

Commenting at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man said that this is a national target program of great significance. In recent times, with the attention of the Party and the State, the Steering Committee for Drug Prevention and Control has taken drastic actions and achieved remarkable results. However, data shows that drug addiction is still alarming. At the National Assembly forums, National Assembly deputies are very interested and carefully analyze this issue. The development and implementation of the national target program on drug prevention and control at this time will meet the expectations of voters and people.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Mangive opinions at the meeting

The National Assembly Chairman emphasized that it is necessary to clarify the causes, propose radical, fundamental, long-term solutions, thoroughly prevent drugs, and tighten control at hot spots and entertainment service areas. At the same time, when building the Program, it is necessary to consider setting reasonable targets to ensure that actions meet expectations and ensure feasibility in practice.

Along with that, the National Assembly Chairman said that it is necessary to carefully review and eliminate overlaps in scope, subjects, and content with other National Target Programs being implemented. Applying the experience of implementing previous National Target Programs, it is necessary to carefully study the coordination mechanism, assign tasks, and responsibilities of ministries and branches to ensure a streamlined focal point, reduce the number of guiding documents, strengthen decentralization, and improve implementation efficiency.

Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh delivered concluding remarks.

Concluding the session, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh said that the National Assembly Standing Committee highly appreciated the determination, sense of responsibility, and proactiveness of the Government, the Ministry of Public Security, and relevant agencies in researching and proposing the development of the Program, basically ensuring the requirements of the Law on Public Investment. The Standing Committee of the Social Affairs Committee has closely coordinated with relevant agencies, organized a serious and thorough review. The review report raised many specific, detailed, and accurate opinions on the contents of the Program. Given the developments of drug crimes and the consequences of unpredictable dangers related to the health of the race and national security, the National Assembly Standing Committee agreed on the necessity of the Program, basically agreeing with the draft Resolution submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 8th Session.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly requested the Government to direct the drafting agency to promptly absorb maximum opinions from the National Assembly Standing Committee and the agency in charge of verification, coordinate verification, and continue to perfect the Program and draft Resolution to submit to the National Assembly for study and discussion in the coming time.