Drug addicts make shoes at Bau Bang Rehabilitation Centre in the central city of Da Nang (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Drug addiction amongyoung people has remained high and is the main cause of crimes among them, withhalf of young addicts having committed crimes, according to the Ministry ofLabour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).
Nguyen Trong Dam, Deputy Minister of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs, said that the ministry estimated that there areabout 222,580 drug addicts nationwide, most of them under 35. Of that, 8 percentstarted using drugs when they were adolescents.
The rate of those using synthetic drugs, such asmethamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine, amphetamine or cannabis was risingannually, by an increase of between six and eight percent a year on average.
In big cities such as Dong Nai, Da Nang and TraVinh, about 80 percent of drug addicts were reported to use synthetic drugs.These drugs can cause symptoms such as physical and mental malfunctions,exhaustion and mental disorders. This could lead to dangerous behaviour, suchas committing suicides or murder.
A report from the Centre for Supporting CommunityDevelopment Initiatives showed that the average age of drug users in Hanoi andHai Phong are 16, and in HCM City are 17.
Nguyen Trong Dam, Deputy Minister of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs, said that the ministry estimated that there areabout 222,580 drug addicts nationwide, most of them under 35. Of that, 8 percentstarted using drugs when they were adolescents.
The rate of those using synthetic drugs, such asmethamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine, amphetamine or cannabis was risingannually, by an increase of between six and eight percent a year on average.
In big cities such as Dong Nai, Da Nang and TraVinh, about 80 percent of drug addicts were reported to use synthetic drugs.These drugs can cause symptoms such as physical and mental malfunctions,exhaustion and mental disorders. This could lead to dangerous behaviour, suchas committing suicides or murder.
A report from the Centre for Supporting CommunityDevelopment Initiatives showed that the average age of drug users in Hanoi andHai Phong are 16, and in HCM City are 17.
Le Van Khanh, deputy head of the ministry’sDepartment of Social Evil Prevention and Control, said that drug addiction isthe reason for crimes by youngsters. About 50 percent of young drug addictshave committed crimes, a 100 times higher rate than those who are not drugaddicts.
Most drug addicts are unemployed or have seasonaljobs. This contributed to the complicated nature of the crimes, he added.
Colonel Nguyen Sy Quang, chief of the staff divisionof the HCM City Police Department, said that drug addiction is the main causebehind the city’s alarming crime rate.
Figures from the department showed that about 60percent of robbers were found to be addicts. Those who were drug addicts are moreaggressive and dangerous, he claimed.
Quang cited a fatal incident in May, in which twostreet knights were stabbed to death while three others were seriously woundedwhen they tried to stop two motorbike robbers in HCM City’s Cach Mang Thang TamStreet.
Nguyen Tan Tai, 24, and Nguyen Hoang Chau Phu, 24,the two suspects that allegedly stabbed the street knights, were detained andprosecuted for murdering and stealing. They were reported to be drug addicts.The other suspect, Ngo Van Hung, 32, was being prosecuted for concealing acriminal.
Change on approaching themost-likely-to-be-addicted Dang Thuan Phong, deputy head of the NationalAssembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, said that as in many other countries,Vietnamese teenagers were the main target for drug gangs. However, drugeducation for young people has remained ineffective.
Most adolescents thought drugs would get them gethigh without any harm. Thus, when they became drug dependent, they would beready to do anything to satisfy their addictions.
Phong said that the high crime rate amongyoungsters was a wake-up call to the community, and education must be morepractical.
Dr Khuat Thi Hai Oanh, deputy director of theCentre for Supporting Community Development Initiatives, said that generalmessages about the harms of drugs have proven ineffective.
According to experts, agencies should worktogether to focus on practical measures. They should pay attention toadolescents living with drug addicts or in danger of falling into a drug ring,and help equip them with knowledge to stay away from drugs.
Involving families was also vital to help youngpeople avoid drugs. Half of young drug users had unhappy families or wereabused by their own families, said experts.-VNS/VNA
Most drug addicts are unemployed or have seasonaljobs. This contributed to the complicated nature of the crimes, he added.
Colonel Nguyen Sy Quang, chief of the staff divisionof the HCM City Police Department, said that drug addiction is the main causebehind the city’s alarming crime rate.
Figures from the department showed that about 60percent of robbers were found to be addicts. Those who were drug addicts are moreaggressive and dangerous, he claimed.
Quang cited a fatal incident in May, in which twostreet knights were stabbed to death while three others were seriously woundedwhen they tried to stop two motorbike robbers in HCM City’s Cach Mang Thang TamStreet.
Nguyen Tan Tai, 24, and Nguyen Hoang Chau Phu, 24,the two suspects that allegedly stabbed the street knights, were detained andprosecuted for murdering and stealing. They were reported to be drug addicts.The other suspect, Ngo Van Hung, 32, was being prosecuted for concealing acriminal.
Change on approaching themost-likely-to-be-addicted Dang Thuan Phong, deputy head of the NationalAssembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, said that as in many other countries,Vietnamese teenagers were the main target for drug gangs. However, drugeducation for young people has remained ineffective.
Most adolescents thought drugs would get them gethigh without any harm. Thus, when they became drug dependent, they would beready to do anything to satisfy their addictions.
Phong said that the high crime rate amongyoungsters was a wake-up call to the community, and education must be morepractical.
Dr Khuat Thi Hai Oanh, deputy director of theCentre for Supporting Community Development Initiatives, said that generalmessages about the harms of drugs have proven ineffective.
According to experts, agencies should worktogether to focus on practical measures. They should pay attention toadolescents living with drug addicts or in danger of falling into a drug ring,and help equip them with knowledge to stay away from drugs.
Involving families was also vital to help youngpeople avoid drugs. Half of young drug users had unhappy families or wereabused by their own families, said experts.-VNS/VNA
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