Mr Trong, who is also chairman of the National Committee for AIDS, Prostitution and Drug Prevention, made the request at a two-day national conference which ended in Hanoi on March 5.

Relevant ministries and agencies should work closely with localities to crack down on complicated drug dens and transnational drug trafficking rings, said Mr Trong.

He asked these agencies to examine the number of drug addicts in every locality so as to draw up appropriate plans of action, enhance the management and control of precursor and addictive substance, and encourage people to completely eliminate opium poppy cultivation.

He underlined the need to increase the quality of medical services for people living with HIV, replicate the successful detoxification models throughout the country and pour more investment into vocational training and job creation for former drug addicts to prevent the relapse.

He urged relevant ministries, agencies and localities to strictly control funding from the State and international organisations to ensure capital resources will be used effectively.

According to the latest statistics, by December 2008, Vietnam had more than 173,000 drug addicts, down 2.6 percent compared to December 2007’s figure. About 20,200 new HIV infections were detected, down 26.6 percent against 2007.

VietNamNet/VOV