“Only when reformed addicts receive community support to earn a living, will the rate of relapses fall,” Mr Trong said during a fact-finding tour of Social Labour and Education Centre No2 in Nghe An province on June 26.

He said drugs are a threat to humankind, for they erode morality, break up families and cause social disorder. He stressed that drug addiction is also one of the major causes of HIV/AIDS.

He shared challenges officials and staff of the centre face, noting that it’s difficult to help addicts detoxify, but it’s more difficult to prevent them from relapsing.

The Deputy PM asked centre teachers and staff to improve vocational training and help addicts stay away from drugs, reintegrate into community and become good citizens. He also asked the managers to expand production to improve 250 addicts’ daily meals at the centre.

Since 2003, the centre has received 1,656 drug addicts of whom 1,389 have been released back into the community. Most of them have been trained in welding, home electricity maintenance and handicrafts.