PM details tougher action to curb country’s drug problems

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has highlighted nine issues that must be addressed to resolve the country’s burgeoning drug problems.
The Prime Minister summarised these issues at the closing ceremony of a meeting on Wednesday to sum up the progress made under the National Agenda on the Resolution of the Drug Problem, which has been in effect from 2021-2023, and future plans to curb drug abuse until the end of 2025.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

Certain aspects of these endeavours require special attention to ensure the goals of the National Agenda are met, the premier said.
He advised government leaders to develop the National Agenda into detailed plans, programmes and projects for implementation by ministries, provinces and related sectors.
1) The Prime Minister recommended that officials review the results achieved under the National Agenda to date in order to identify weaknesses, challenges and lessons that can be learnt and used to set the direction of future plans, to resolve the drug problem more efficiently and effectively.
2) He advised a review of the six focus work plans so they can be improved in line with circumstances now and in the future by breaking them down into specific projects with detailed plans, budgets, personnel recruitment, and detailed and clear goals, as well as assigning responsible parties to implement them right from the start.
3) Officials were advised to define the rights, duties and responsibilities of the National Drug Remedial Committee and to appoint local Drug Remedial Committees with the participation of all relevant local sectors to ensure comprehensive fulfilment of the National Agenda by 2025.
4) The responsibility and leadership of every Party committee, at all levels, must be increased so that the National Agenda is used to enhance patriotism and development, and build drug-free Party units that are firmly linked to the creation of villages, construction of schools and drug-free areas, with the objective of ensuring that 80 percent of villages in the country are drug-free. This should be done through the creation of a 100 percent drug-free agency, drug free-schools, and ensuring that at least 95 percent of all educational institutions are drug-free.
5) Awareness-raising must be stepped up to inform people about the harmful effects of drugs and this information should be published in all media channels.
6) Local authorities were instructed to monitor, prevent and resolve the theft of plants that contain addictive substances, especially in the northern and central provinces, and to review the success of projects to provide alternatives to opium poppy cultivation. These schemes include Laos-China cooperation projects, Laos-United Nations cooperation projects, and other initiatives aimed at benefitting local populations.
7) Officials were advised to supervise the operations of drug rehabilitation centres, provide addicts with vocational training, and increase the efficiency of treatment provided at district hospitals.
8) Monitoring, inspection and management of the import, export and transit of chemicals brought into Laos for use in industry, mining, medicine, etc. must be stepped up, to ensure compliance with the law.
9) Greater emphasis on cooperation with friendly countries in the region should be encouraged to curb the drug trade in border areas.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update December 15, 2023)