Establishing "drug-free neighborhoods" in coastal tourist cities.

In the context of increasingly sophisticated and difficult-to-control drug trafficking, many localities have faced numerous challenges in preventing and combating this social ill. In Sam Son ward, where the population fluctuates with seasonal tourism, this risk is even more likely to arise. Based on this practical need, the ward has set a major goal for the 2025-2030 period: to build a "drug-free ward," creating a safe and healthy living environment, contributing to maintaining peace for each family, and promoting the image of a civilized tourist city.

The launching ceremony for students to strictly abide by the law on drug prevention and control was held at Sam Son High School.

Sam Son is a bustling tourist ward, welcoming tens of thousands of tourists and a large seasonal workforce each year. These changes have led to significant risks related to drug abuse. Besides criminals exploiting the crowds for cover, small, fragmented drug rings can easily blend in and are harder to detect. Furthermore, synthetic drugs and new forms of drugs are becoming increasingly prevalent and spreading through sophisticated methods. A segment of young people lack self-protection skills, while recovering addicts are easily influenced, leading to a high risk of relapse. All these factors compel Sam Son ward to proactively address these potential threats.

Identifying key tasks, Sam Son ward has announced a plan to build a "drug-free ward" for the period 2025-2030 and established a steering committee to ensure its continuous implementation. The steering committee comprises leaders from the ward's Party Committee and People's Committee, representatives from political and social organizations, and the police force. Its nhiệm vụ is to coordinate, inspect, supervise, and be generally responsible for the results of the implementation. The overarching principle throughout the plan is "clear responsibilities, clear tasks, clear accountability," avoiding overlapping responsibilities and shirking of duties. One of the key highlights is the ward's initiative to have all households sign a commitment to remain free from drug-related activities. This commitment is not merely a formality, but a measure to encourage each family to self-reflect, become self-aware, and act as "eyes and ears" to detect any unusual activity in the residential area early. With the motto "each family is a fortress," the ward aims to mobilize the strength of the community in the fight against drugs.

As a frontline force, the Sam Son Ward Police are responsible for most operational tasks such as patrolling, prevention, combating, and handling drug-related activities. To realize the goal of completely eliminating complex drug hotspots and networks by 2030, and restoring a safe living environment for residents, the ward police are strengthening population checks, especially targeting temporary residents during the tourist season; focusing on inspecting businesses and service establishments prone to drug-related problems; coordinating with specialized teams to verify and dismantle small-scale networks; and closely managing drug addicts and those who have completed rehabilitation. This task requires perseverance, dedication, and humanity, as effectively managing those who have completed rehabilitation reduces the risk of relapse – a crucial condition for long-term stability.

Besides professional measures, public awareness campaigns are considered the most sustainable solution. Sam Son Ward has intensified communication through its public address system, integrating drug prevention content into activities of women's associations, veterans' associations, and youth unions; and organizing awareness sessions in schools using easily understandable and visual methods. Key target groups such as teenagers, business owners, and new residents are all educated in an appropriate manner. As a result, community awareness has significantly improved: many residents proactively report suspicious activity, and many families pay more attention to managing their children and monitoring unusual activities in the residential area. This is the strength of the community that helps Sam Son Ward minimize the risk of social ills early and proactively.

To build a "drug-free ward" according to the planned roadmap, the locality has set forth several key solutions: strictly controlling the population and temporary residents to limit loopholes that can be exploited by criminals; strengthening patrols and surveillance in high-risk areas; and severely punishing acts of trafficking, storing, or using illegal drugs. At the same time, emphasis is placed on supporting addicts and those who have completed rehabilitation to reintegrate into the community, as a successful reintegration also means preventing the risk of relapse. Furthermore, the goal of being "drug-free" is integrated into building cultural life and safe residential areas, creating a clean living environment where social vices have no opportunity to infiltrate.

Comrade Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Head of the Sam Son Ward Police, emphasized: To combat drug abuse, we cannot rely solely on law enforcement agencies; a coordinated effort from the entire political system and the voluntary participation of the people are necessary. According to him, drugs do not discriminate based on age, gender, or occupation; anyone can become a victim if the community is negligent and lacks vigilance. Therefore, each neighborhood, each family, and even each individual has a specific role to play in detecting, reporting, and preventing any unusual signs related to drugs. The ward police force will continue to play a leading and core role, resolutely fighting drug crimes with professionalism, responsibility, and perseverance. Along with investigation and crackdown, the ward police also focus on managing drug addicts and those recovering from addiction, and intensify propaganda to form a strong community "shield."

Text and photos: Tran Hang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/xay-dung-phuong-khong-ma-tuy-o-do-thi-du-lich-bien-271387.htm