On Thursday, Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Tran Tho and municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho, along with leaders of local relevant agencies, met with 100 local teenagers who are drug addicts.

Over the first 5 months of this year, about 1,500 drug addicts have been reported in the city, a rise of over 900 compared with the same period last year.  94.2% of them use synthetic drugs, 3.3% use heroin and the remainder are addicted to cannabis.

Secretary Tran Tho talking with a teenage drug addict

Currently, 91.5% of the city’s drug-users are teenagers and 77% are unemployed.

Chairman Duc Tho stressed the need to remove discrimination against drug users in order to help them have more courage to quit using drugs, confidently integrate into the community, and become good citizens.

Secretary Tho said that one billion VND from the city’s budget will be spent on helping 100 local teen drug addicts to find suitable jobs after rehabilitation.  Those who successfully undergo detoxification will be provided with vocational training courses and jobs at local businesses as a means of earning a living to support their families.  In addition, bank loans at preferential interest rates will be offered to any of them who want to set up their own businesses.