A drug addict is examined by a doctor at a drug treatment establishment in Bình Dương Province. VNS/Photo.Gia Lộc

HCM CITY— HCM City People’s Committee has instructed local departments to strengthen preventive measures against drug crimes as a response to National Action Month on Drug Prevention and Control.

District authorities should enhance communication about preventive measures and the harm caused by drugs, while each ward or commune should organise meetings to educate residents about drug prevention.

Shortcomings in drug prevention and community-based addiction treatments, as well as management of ex-addicts after treatment, should be solved in a quick manner, the committee said.

Police should also step up inspection of hotels and bars suspected of storing and illegally selling drugs, especially amphetamine-type stimulants.

Police should continue to collect documents on drug addicts who relapse and need further treatment or attendance at compulsory rehabilitation establishments.   

More foreigners are working with locals to hire warehouses and set up enterprises to produce, trade, import and export drugs in the city, especially areas near provinces.

In the first quarter, 6,562 violations were discovered by police, who also seized the drugs.

According to the city's Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the city was managing 23,508 drug addicts as of mid-March. Among these, there were more young people, who were taking many kinds of drugs, especially amphetamine-type stimulants. VNS