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| Border guards at Na Meo International Border Gate in Thanh Hoa province detect drugs concealed inside a vehicle by Lao national Kong Vang Xiong in 2023__Photo: VNA |
During the 8th session held on November 2, 2026, under the chair of National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly reviewed the investment policy for the national target programme on drug and crime prevention and control for the 2026-35 period.
Proposed for nationwide implementation over a 10-year timespan, the programme addresses strategic, inter-sectoral and inter-regional challenges related to drug abuse and crime combat. The total budget is estimated at over VND 45.3 trillion for the 2026-30 period and roughly VND 18.15 trillion for 2031-35.
The programme establishes specific targets to be achieved by 2030, focusing primarily on an annual decrease in the number of drug addicts and illegal drug users. Notably, it strives to achieve at least 50 per cent drug-free communes, wards and special zones nationwide, while dismantling all drug hotspots, high-risk areas, drug dealing suspects, and illicit cultivation of drug-yielding plants.
In the fields of healthcare and social welfare, the programme aims to ensure that over 80 per cent of commune-level health stations and 100 per cent of public drug rehabilitation facilities meet the criteria for determining drug addiction status, while maintaining treatment for at least 50,000 opioid addicts. Over 90 percent of addicts, illegal narcotics users, and persons undergoing rehabilitation will receive medical and psychological counselling and support. Furthermore, over 80 per cent of major media outlets and press agencies nationwide will feature dedicated columns on drug and crime prevention and control.
Expressing support for the programme’s policy, National Assembly President Man stressed that the crucial factor is effective implementation to substantially reduce crimes in all fields and sectors.
All ministries, sectors and localities will have to promptly formulate action plans that set out targets, roadmaps and solutions suited to specific local characteristics, while strictly observing periodical reporting regimes. The top legislator noted that drug prevention and control results must be treated as a key performance indicator for local Party Committees and authorities and heads of state agencies, while harnessing public strength under the motto “citizens are soldiers, families are battlegrounds, and localities are fortresses.”
Regarding component projects of the programme, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly requested a comprehensive review to prevent dispersion of resources and overlap of tasks and contents with other national target programmes.
Additionally, special mechanisms and policies must be formulated to clearly define the authority over state budget allocations and adjustments, thereby ensuring the efficiency of the programme.- (VLLF)
