Law on Drug Prevention and Control 2025, No. 120/2025/QH15

LAW

On Drug Prevention and Control^[1]

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly promulgates the Law on Drug Prevention and Control.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Law provides drug prevention and control; management of illegal drug users; drug rehabilitation; responsibilities of individuals, families, agencies and organisations in drug prevention and control; and state management of, and international cooperation on, drug prevention and control.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Narcotic substance means an addictive substance or a psychotropic substance specified in the Government-promulgated list of narcotic substances.

2. Addictive substance means a stimulant or depressant that may easily cause a state of addiction in users.

3. Psychotropic substance means a stimulant, depressant or hallucinogen that, if used repeatedly, may lead to a state of addiction in users.

4. Precursor means a chemical frequently used in the process of preparation and production of narcotic substances and specified in the Government-promulgated list of precursors.

5. Narcotic plant means opium poppy, coca, cannabis plant, or another type of plant bearing narcotic substances as specified by the Government.

6. Drug prevention and control means preventing, stopping and combating drug-related crimes and evils, and controlling drug-related lawful activities.

7. Drug-related evil means illegal drug use, drug addiction, and other acts violating the drug law which are not serious enough for or not subject to penal liability examination.

8. Control of drug-related lawful activities means the licensing, monitoring, inspection and supervision of drug-related lawful activities, and the prevention and stoppage of the abuse of such activities for other purposes.

9. Illegal drug user means a person who uses a narcotic substance without being permitted by a competent person or specialised agency and whose drug test results are positive.

10. Body drug test means the performance of specialised techniques to determine the presence of narcotic substances in a human body based on urine samples, blood samples or other biological specimens.

11. Drug addict means a person who uses narcotic substances, addictive drugs or psychotropic drugs and is dependent on such substances or drugs.

12. Drug rehabilitation means the process of providing medical, psychological and social assistance to help drug addicts stop using narcotic substances, addictive drugs or psychotropic drugs; rehabilitate their physical and mental wellness; raise their awareness about drug use; and change behaviours in order to terminate illegally using such substances or drugs.

Article 3. The State’s policies on drug prevention and control

1. To synchronously implement drug prevention and control measures, in combination with the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other social evils.

2. To intensify public communication and education about drug prevention and control; to encourage organisations and individuals to participate in public communication and education about drug prevention and control.

3. To prioritise the provision of resources for drug prevention and control in border areas, islands, ethnic minority and mountainous regions, areas with difficult socio-economic conditions, areas with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions, and areas where drug-related situation is complicated under the Government’s regulations.

4. To protect and assist individuals, families, agencies and organisations participating in drug prevention and control.

5. To strictly manage illegal drug users and drug addicts; to encourage drug addicts to willingly undergo drug rehabilitation or medication-assisted treatment; to encourage individuals, families, agencies and organisations to participate in and support drug rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation management activities.

6. To ensure that officers and soldiers of specialised agencies in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat, and persons engaged in drug rehabilitation activities at public drug rehabilitation facilities and reformatories are entitled to preferential regimes and policies suitable to the nature of their duties and operation areas under the Government’s regulations.

7. To ensure funding for drug rehabilitation at public drug rehabilitation facilities and reformatories; to subsidise expenses for drug rehabilitation at non-public facilities, expenses for management of illegal drug users, and expenses for post-rehabilitation management.

8. To ensure that domestic and foreign organisations and individuals that invest in drug rehabilitation, provide support for post-rehabilitation management and addiction relapse prevention and control, and employ drug addicts or those who have completely executed drug rehabilitation decisions are entitled to land rental and corporate income tax exemption or reduction in accordance with law.

9. To promote scientific research, technological development, and the application of high technologies in drug prevention and control.

10. To commend individuals, organisations and agencies that record achievements in drug prevention and control.

Article 4. Financial sources for drug prevention and control

1. The state budget.

2. Donations, aid, investment and gifts of domestic and foreign organisations and individuals.

3. Payments by drug addicts and their families.

4. Other lawful financial sources.

Article 5. Prohibited acts

1. Cultivating narcotic plants or guiding the cultivation thereof.

2. Illegally  researching, assessing, testing, inspecting, producing, stockpiling, transporting, preserving, storing, trading in, distributing, disposing of, exchanging, exporting, importing, temporarily importing for re-export, temporarily exporting for re-import, or transiting narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, precursors used as drugs, veterinary drugs, animal feed, or aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors.

3. Misappropriating narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drugs materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, precursors used as drugs, veterinary drugs, animal feed, or aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors.

4. Illegally forwarding, managing, controlling, storing, dispensing or preserving narcotic substances and precursors; permitting the use of narcotic substances, addictive drugs or psychotropic drugs in contravention of law.

5. Illegally using, or organising the illegal use of, narcotic substances; forcing or inciting others to illegally use narcotic substances; harbouring or supporting illegal use of narcotic substances.

6. Producing, stockpiling, transporting or trading in means and tools for the production or illegal use of narcotic substances.

7. Obstructing body drug testing, determination of drug addiction state, management of illegal drug users, drug rehabilitation or post-rehabilitation management.

8. Retaliating against or obstructing persons who perform drug prevention and control duties or participate in drug prevention and control.

9. Abusing one’s positions, powers or occupations to violate the law on drug prevention and control.

10. Guiding the production or illegal use of narcotic substances; advertising or marketing narcotic substances.

11. Discriminating against illegal drug users, persons undergoing drug rehabilitation and persons having undergone drug rehabilitation.

Chapter II

DRUG PREVENTION AND CONTROL RESPONSIBILITIES

Article 6. Responsibilities of individuals, families and the community

1. To carry out public communication and education among family members and relatives about drug harms and observance of the law on drug prevention and control; to manage and prevent family members from violating the law on drug prevention and control.

2. To strictly follow instructions of competent persons regarding the use of addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, and veterinary drugs containing narcotic substances or precursors.

3. To cooperate with authorities in combatting drug-related crimes and evils; to manage illegal drug users; to participate in providing support for home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation or drug rehabilitation at drug rehabilitation facilities, and medication-assisted treatment; to monitor and help persons who have undergone drug rehabilitation integrate themselves into the community; to prevent and control addiction relapse.

4. To promptly provide information on drug-related crimes and evils and cultivation of narcotic plants to Public Security agencies or competent state agencies; to participate in the elimination of narcotic plants as launched by local administrations.

Article 7. Responsibilities of state agencies

1. To organise drug prevention and control in agencies or units; to prevent cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers under their management and officers and soldiers of the people’s armed forces from violating the law on drug prevention and control; to carry out public communication among, and mobilise, the people to detect, report and combat drug-related crimes and evils. 

2. To organise the implementation of the State’s guidelines and the State’s policies on planning and socio-economic development for replacement of narcotic plants in areas where the cultivation of narcotic plants is to be eliminated.

Article 8. Responsibilities of education institutions

1. To organise the implementation of programmes on education about drug prevention and control; to disseminate and educate the law on drug prevention and control among pupils, students and trainees; to strictly manage and prevent pupils, students and trainees from violating the law on drug prevention and control.

2. To coordinate with families, agencies, organisations and local administrations in managing and educating pupils, students and trainees about drug prevention and control.

3. To coordinate with competent agencies, organisations and persons in organising body drug tests when necessary to detect illegal drug use by pupils, students and trainees.

Article 9. Responsibilities of press and media agencies

Press and media agencies shall coordinate with related agencies and organisations in disseminating guidelines, policies and the law on drug prevention and control.

Article 10. Responsibilities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organisations and other organisations

1. To organise, and coordinate with competent agencies in carrying out, public communication and dissemination of knowledge and the law on drug prevention and control among the people; to mobilise the people to participate in drug prevention and control and respond to drug prevention and control movements.

2. To prevent their members and all citizens from violating the law on drug prevention and control.

3. To coordinate with local administrations at all levels and competent agencies in mobilising drug addicts to take drug rehabilitation measures or undergo medication-assisted treatment; to manage illegal drug users; to participate in transforming, educating, providing vocational training to, seeking jobs for, and helping persons who have undergone drug rehabilitation integrate themselves into the community; to prevent and combat drug addiction relapse.

Article 11. Specialised agencies in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat

1. Specialised agencies in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat include:

a/ The specialised agency in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat of the People’s Public Security forces;

b/ The specialised agencies in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat of the Border Guard, Vietnam Coast Guard and Vietnam Customs.

2. The specialised agency in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat of the People’s Public Security forces shall, within the ambit of its tasks and powers, assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related agencies and organisations in, carrying out drug-related crime prevention and combat activities.

3. The specialised agencies in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat of the Border Guard, Vietnam Coast Guard and Vietnam Customs shall, within the ambit of their tasks and powers, assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with Public Security agencies and related agencies and organisations in, carrying out drug-related crime prevention and combat activities in geographical areas or localities under their management or control.

4. When a violation related to tasks and powers of more than one agency is detected in the same geographical area, the agency that detects such violation first shall handle it according to its law-provided competence. In case such violation falls beyond its competence, the agency that detects it first shall forward the violation case file, the violator and exhibits to the agency competent to handle the violation.

5. The Government shall provide the coordination among specialised agencies in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat.

Article 12. Electronic monitoring measures

1. Electronic monitoring means the use of electronic devices to manage and monitor:

a/ Persons currently undergoing home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation;

b/ Persons currently undergoing medication-assisted treatment;

c/ Persons currently under post-rehabilitation management.

2. Chiefs of commune-level Public Security agencies are competent to apply electronic monitoring measures.

3. Responsibilities of persons subject to electronic monitoring measures:

a/ To abide by decisions on application of electronic monitoring measures;

b/ To refrain from removing, destroying or interfering with the operation of electronic monitoring devices without permission;

c/ To immediately notify commune-level Public Security agencies upon discovering that electronic monitoring devices are broken.

4. The Government shall provide in detail electronic monitoring devices and persons subject to electronic monitoring; and specify conditions, time limit, order and procedures for handling violations in the application of electronic monitoring measures.

Chapter III

CONTROL OF DRUG-RELATED LAWFUL ACTIVITIES

Article 13. Drug-related lawful activities

1. Drug-related lawful activities means activities permitted by competent state management agencies; these activities include:

a/ Researching, assessing, testing, inspecting and producing narcotic substances (excluding cultivating narcotic plants), precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, precursors used as drugs, veterinary drugs, animal feed and aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors;

b/ Transporting, preserving, stockpiling, trading in, distributing, using, disposing of, and exchanging narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, precursors used as drugs, veterinary drugs, animal feed and aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors;

c/ Importing, exporting, temporarily importing for re-export, temporarily exporting for re-import, and transiting narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, precursors used as drugs, veterinary drugs, animal feed, and aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors.

2. Drug-related lawful activities specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall be strictly controlled in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws.

Article 14. Control of research, assessment and production of narcotic substances and precursors

1. Research, assessment and production of narcotic substances (excluding cultivation of narcotic plants) and precursors shall be monitored, inspected and supervised by competent state agencies.

2. The Government shall specify agencies competent to permit, and order and procedures for permitting, and the monitoring, inspection and supervision of, activities specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 15. Control of transportation of narcotic substances and precursors

1. Agencies, organisations and individuals that are permitted by competent state agencies may transport narcotic substances and precursors. Before transporting narcotic substances and precursors, agencies, organisations and individuals shall package and seal them up under regulations of competent agencies, take responsibility for quantity and quality, and take measures to protect safety and avoid loss during transportation, of narcotic substances and precursors, and submit to monitoring, inspection and supervision by competent state agencies.

2. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 16. Control of activities related to addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, and precursors used as drugs

The control of activities related to addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, and precursors used as drugs must comply with the law on pharmacy, except the activities specified in Point b, Clause 1, and Clause 2, Article 18 of this Law.

Article 17. Control of activities related to veterinary drugs, animal feed and aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors

The control of activities related to veterinary drugs, animal feed and aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors must comply with the Government’s regulations.

Article 18. Control of import, export, temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, and transit of narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, and precursors used as drugs

1. The following activities are subject to permission by competent agencies:

a/ Importing, exporting, temporarily importing for re-export, and temporarily exporting for re-import narcotic substances and precursors;

b/ Temporarily importing for re-export and temporarily exporting for re-import addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, and precursors used as drugs.

2. The transit through Vietnam’s territory of narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, and precursors used as drugs must strictly follow the routes stated in transit permits. Agencies and organisations making transits shall carry out procedures and submit to control by customs authorities and other competent agencies of Vietnam. 

3. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 19. Preparation of dossiers of, and reports on, drug-related lawful activities

When carrying out the activities specified in Clause 1, Article 13 of this Law, agencies, organisations and individuals shall prepare dossiers thereof and reports thereon, and exchange and share information under the Government’s regulations.

Article 20. Control of drug-related lawful activities for national defence and security purposes

Research, assessment, production, transportation, stockpiling, preservation, use, import, export, temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import, and transit of narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, precursors used as drugs, veterinary drugs, animal feed and aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors for national defence and security purposes must comply with the Government’s regulations.

Article 21. Control of addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs and precursor drugs for the purpose of first aid or medical emergency during international voyages or tours or for medical treatment of persons on entry or exit or in transit

1. The carrying of addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs and precursor drugs for use for first aid or medical emergency on board ships, aircraft, trains, automobiles or other means of transport during international voyages or tours is not regarded as transportation of goods for export from, import into or transit through, Vietnam’s territory.

Commanders, or operators of such means of transport shall make declarations to the customs authorities of Vietnam; report on or make explanations about drug management and used drug volumes, apply appropriate safety measures to prevent improper use or illegal transportation of such drugs, and submit to control by competent agencies of Vietnam.

2. The carrying of addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs and precursor drugs for medical treatment of persons on entry or exit or transit through Vietnam’s territory must comply with the Government’s regulations and submit to control by competent agencies of Vietnam.

Article 21. Disposal of narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, precursors used as drugs, veterinary drugs, animal feed and aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors confiscated in cases of law violation

Narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, drug materials being addictive pharmaceuticals, psychotropic pharmaceuticals, precursors used as drugs, veterinary drugs, animal feed and aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors confiscated in criminal cases or administrative violation matters shall be disposed of in accordance with the criminal procedure law or the law on handling of administrative violations.

Chapter IV

MANAGEMENT OF ILLEGAL DRUG USERS

Article 23. Body drug tests

1. Body drug tests shall be carried out for:

a/ Persons who are detected to illegally use drugs;

b/ Persons who commit acts of illegally using drugs as competent agencies or persons have grounds to believe so;

c/ Persons who are currently managed as illegal drug users;

d/ Persons who are undergoing drug rehabilitation;

dd/ Persons who are undergoing medication-assisted treatment;

e/ Persons who are currently under post-treatment management.

2. Heads of drug rehabilitation facilities or facilities providing medication-assisted treatment, and persons competent to administratively sanction acts of illegally using drugs shall carry out drug tests according to their competence or request agencies or persons with professional expertise to carry out body drug tests for the persons specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

If a person requested for body drug test refuses to take the test, the person competent to administratively sanction acts of illegally using drugs may apply the measure of escorting him/her according to administrative procedures to the testing place to take body drug test.

In case of positive drug test results, such results shall be immediately sent to chiefs of commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where tested persons reside, unless such persons are undergoing drug rehabilitation in public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories.

For illegal drug users that have no stable places of residence, Article 31 of this Law shall apply.

3. The State shall allocate funds for body drug tests for the persons specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 24. Management and education of illegal drug users by competent agencies and individuals

1. Management of illegal drug users is a preventive measure to help illegal drug users stop illegally using drugs and to prevent their commission of illegal acts.

Management of illegal drug users is not an administrative handling measure.

2. The period of management of an illegal drug user is 1 year after a management decision is issued.

3. Commune-level People’s Committees shall manage and educate illegal drug users in their localities

4. Chiefs of commune-level Public Security agencies shall personally help commune-level People’s Committees in managing illegal drug users, and have the following tasks and powers:

a/ To issue decisions on and organise the management of illegal drug users within 24 hours after receiving positive drug test results of persons residing in their localities;

b/ To manage residence of illegal drug users; to summon illegal drug users; to perform body drug tests for illegal drug users; to prevent and stop acts of illegal drug users that disturb security or public order;

c/ To coordinate with agencies, organisations, mass organisations and individuals in advising, encouraging, educating and preventing illegal drug users from relapsing into illegal drug use.

5. During the management period, the chief of a commune-level Public Security agency shall decide to stop managing an illegal drug user in the following case:

a/ He/she is identified as a drug addict;

b/ He/she is subject to the administrative handling measure of consignment into correctional institution or reformatory, or the diversionary measure of education at reformatory;

c/ He/she is obliged to serve a sentence;

d/ He/she is dead or declared missing by the court;

dd/ The case specified in Clause 7 of this Article.

6. For an illegal drug user who has no stable place of residence, after he/she is concluded to be a non-addict, the commune-level People’s Committee or the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she is detected shall manage him/her and coordinate with the commune-level People’s Committee or the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she registers permanent residence in performing appropriate management under Clauses 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this Article.

The decision on management of an illegal drug user shall be immediately sent to the commune-level People’s Committee or the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she registers permanent residence for coordinated management.

7. For an illegal drug user who is held in custody or temporarily detained in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code, the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency shall issue a decision on management suspension. If the period of custody or detention is longer than the remaining period of management of the illegal drug user, the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency shall decide to terminate the management. If the period of custody or detention is shorter than the remaining period of management of the illegal drug user, the management shall continue until its period expires.

8. Commune-level Public Security agencies shall periodically report to commune-level People’s Committees or report upon request on the management of illegal drug users.

9. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 25. Responsibilities of illegal drug users

1. To provide adequate and accurate information about drugs and their acts of illegally using drugs to commune-level Public Security agencies or other competent agencies or persons.

2. To show themselves according to summons and upon request of commune-level Public Security agencies and commune-level People’s Committees during the management period.

3. To commit to strictly abiding by law.

4. In case of absence from their places of residence, to report thereon to commune-level Public Security agencies; to notify commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where they reside before changing their places of residence; to show themselves to commune-level Public Security agencies of localities of their new places of residence within 24 hours.

5. To perform other responsibilities in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws.

Article 26. Responsibilities of families, agencies, organisations and individuals in the management of illegal drug users

1. Families of illegal drug users shall:

a/ Manage and educate illegal drug users; and prevent their acts of illegally using drugs;

b/ Provide information about acts of illegally using drugs of illegal drug users to commune-level Public Security agencies;

c/ Prevent illegal drug users from committing acts of disturbing security or public order;

d/ Coordinate with competent agencies in sending illegal drug users for body drug tests.

2. Agencies, organisations and individuals in localities where illegal drug users are working or residing shall:

a/ Encourage, assist and educate illegal drug users; and prevent their acts of illegally using drugs;

b/ Coordinate with families and competent agencies in sending illegal drug users for body drug tests.

Article 27. Making of lists of illegal drug users

1. Commune-level Public Security agencies shall make lists of illegal drug users who reside in their localities.

2. When an illegal drug user changes his/her place of residence, the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality from which he/she leaves shall notify such to the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality to which he/she moves within 24 hours after he/she leaves for inclusion in a list of illegal drug users for continued management.

3. A commune-level Public Security agency shall remove an illegal drug user from a list of illegal drug users if the latter:

a/ Commits no act of illegally using drugs during the management period specified in Clause 2, Article 24 of this Law;

b/ Falls into a case eligible for management termination specified in Clause 5, Article 24 of this Law;

c/ Moves to another locality for residence.

Chapter V

DRUG REHABILITATION

Article 28. Drug rehabilitation facilities

1. Drug rehabilitation facilities shall be established to carry out drug rehabilitation for drug addicts, and include:

a/ Public drug rehabilitation facilities, which carry out drug rehabilitation for persons aged full 18 years or older;

b/ Reformatories and public drug rehabilitation facilities, which are qualified for carrying out drug rehabilitation for persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years;

c/ Private drug rehabilitation facilities, which carry out drug rehabilitation for persons aged full 12 years or older.

2. The Government shall specify conditions on physical foundations and equipment of the drug rehabilitation facilities specified in Points a and b, Clause 1 of this Article; and specify criteria for establishment, and order and procedures for issuance, re-issuance and revocation of operation licences and conditions on physical foundations, equipment, personnel and management regime of private drug rehabilitation facilities.

3. The Minister of Public Security shall decide on establishment and dissolution of public drug rehabilitation facilities and reformatories; and specify conditions on personnel and management regime of public drug rehabilitation facilities and reformatories.

4. Directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security may issue, re-issue, suspend and revoke operation licences for private drug rehabilitation facilities in their localities.

Article 29. Duration and process of drug rehabilitation

1. Duration of drug rehabilitation is 24 months for drug addicts undergoing first-time drug rehabilitation or 36 months for those undergoing second-time or subsequent drug rehabilitation.

2. The process of drug rehabilitation consists of the following stages:

a/ Receipt and classification of drug addicts;

b/ Detoxification, and treatment of mental disorders and other pathological signs;  

c/ Education, counselling and behavioural rehabilitation;

d/ Occupational therapy and vocational training;

dd/ Preparation for community reintegration.

3. Drug addicts undergoing drug rehabilitation shall fully comply with the duration and process of drug rehabilitation specified in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.

4. The Government shall detail Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article.

Article 29. Forms of drug rehabilitation

1. Voluntary drug rehabilitation includes:

a/ Home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation, which must fully comply with the duration and process of drug rehabilitation specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 29 of this Law;

b/ Voluntary drug rehabilitation at public drug rehabilitation facilities, reformatories, and public drug rehabilitation facilities qualified to carry out drug rehabilitation for persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years, which must fully comply with the duration and process of drug rehabilitation specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 29 of this Law;

c/ Voluntary drug rehabilitation at private drug rehabilitation facilities, which must fully comply with the duration and process of drug rehabilitation specified in Article 29 of this Law;

d/ Voluntary drug rehabilitation at private drug rehabilitation facilities, which must comply with at least 3 stages specified in Points a, b and c, Clause 2, Article 29 of this Law; the remaining duration and other stages must be carried out in home/community-based form.

2. Compulsory drug rehabilitation includes:

a/ Compulsory drug rehabilitation at public drug rehabilitation facilities for persons aged full 18 years or older, which must fully comply with the duration and process of drug rehabilitation specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 29 of this Law;

b/ Compulsory drug rehabilitation at reformatories and public drug rehabilitation facilities qualified to carry out drug rehabilitation for persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years, which must fully comply with the duration and process of drug rehabilitation specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 29 of this Law.

Article 31. Determination of state of drug addiction

1. The state of drug addiction shall be determined for a person falling into the following cases:

a/ He/she is willing to have his/her state of drug addiction determined;

b/ He/she registers for voluntary drug rehabilitation, in case of having no letter of confirmation of state of drug addiction or having a letter of confirmation of state of drug addiction which was issued more than 6 months earlier;

c/ He/she is detected to illegally use drugs during the period of management of illegal drug users specified in Clause 2, Article 24 of this Law, provided he/she is not subject to being handled in accordance with the criminal law;

d/ He/she is detected to illegally use drugs during the period of post-rehabilitation management, provided he/she is not subject to being handled in accordance with the criminal law;

dd/ He/she has no stable place of residence or does not fall into the case specified in Point c or d of this Clause.

2. Commune-level Public Security agencies that detect persons falling into the case specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall make dossiers to request competent health establishments to determine their state of drug addiction.

3. If detecting a case specified in Points c, d or dd, Clause 1 of this Article in the course of investigation and acceptance for settlement of a case of law violation, a specialised agency in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat specified in Clause 1, Article 11 of this Law shall make a dossier to request a competent health establishment to determine the state of drug addiction and shall:

a/ If the state of drug addiction is confirmed, transfer the drug addict and relevant documents to the commune-level Public Security agency of locality where the illegal drug user is detected or the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where the act of illegally using drugs is detected, for persons having no stable place of residence;

b/ If the state of drug addiction is not confirmed, notify thereof and transfer relevant documents to the commune-level Public Security agency for management of the illegal drug user under Article 24 of this Law.

4. Upon obtaining results of determination of the state of drug addiction, a health establishment shall immediately send such results to the agency requesting determination of the state of drug addiction and the person whose state of drug addiction is determined, or his/her parents, guardian or legal representative if he/she is aged between 12 years and under 18 years.

5. Persons requested for determination of their state of drug addiction have the following rights and responsibilities:

a/ To have their honour and dignity protected; to be provided with support for travel, accommodations, therapy of withdrawal syndromes and comorbidities during the period of determination of the state of drug addiction;

b/ To abide by internal rules and regulations of establishments determining their state of drug addiction; to truthfully declare their history and symptoms of drug use to medical workers.

6. When receiving drug addiction confirmation, persons aged full 18 years or older, or parents, guardians or legal representatives of persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years specified in Points a and b, Clause 1 of this Article shall register voluntary drug rehabilitation or for medication-assisted treatment with commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where they reside.

When receiving drug addiction confirmation, persons aged full 18 years or older, or parents, guardians or legal representatives of persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years specified in Point dd, Clause 1 of this Article shall register voluntary drug rehabilitation at public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories or public drug rehabilitation facilities qualified to carryout drug rehabilitation for persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years with commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where acts of illegally using drugs are detected.

7. The Government shall specify health establishments qualified for determination of the state of drug addiction; and dossiers, order and procedures for determination of the state of drug addiction.

8. The Minister of Health shall specify standards for diagnosis and professional process of determination of the state of drug addiction.

9. The State shall ensure funding for determination of the state of drug addiction for the persons specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 32. Home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation

1. Home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation is that drug addicts are willing to register home/community-based drug addiction treatment with professional assistance of drug rehabilitation service providers and coordination and support of their families or communities, and submit to management by commune-level People’s Committees and commune-level Public Security agencies.

2. Period of home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation:

a/ For a person undergoing drug rehabilitation who fully complies with the duration and process specified in Article 29 of this Law, the period of home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation shall be counted from the date the commune-level Public Security agency makes minutes of receipt of his/her drug rehabilitation registration;

b/ For a person undergoing drug rehabilitation at a private drug rehabilitation facility who has completed at least 3 stages specified in Points a, b and c, Clause 1, Article 29 of this Law, but has not yet fully complied with the duration and process specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 29 of this Law, the remaining period of drug rehabilitation shall be counted from the date the commune-level Public Security agency makes minutes of receipt of his/her drug rehabilitation registration. In this case, he/she shall continue undergoing home/community-based drug rehabilitation until the remaining duration and process specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 29 of this Law are completed.

3. Upon completing at least 3 stages specified in Points a, b and c, Clause 1, Article 29 of this Law, persons undergoing home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation are entitled to part of funding.

4. Persons undergoing home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation shall register their drug rehabilitation with commune-level Public Security agencies and make written commitments to strictly abiding by management and supervision measures. Written commitments of those aged between full 12 years and under 18 years undergoing drug rehabilitation must be certified by their parents, guardians or legal representatives.

5. Chiefs of commune-level Public Security agencies have the following tasks and powers:

a/ To make minutes of receipt of home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation registration;

b/ To manage residence; to summon; to carry out electronic monitoring; to perform body drug tests; to prevent and stop acts of disturbing security and public order of drug addicts currently undergoing home/community-based drug rehabilitation;

c/ To issue letters of confirmation of completion of home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation;

d/ To periodically report to commune-level People’s Committees or report upon request on the management of drug addicts undergoing home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation.

6. Directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security have the following responsibilities:

a/ To direct, guide and inspect home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation;

b/ To receive registrations and announce lists of organisations and individuals qualified for provision of home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation services;

c/ To notify commune-level People’s Committees and commune-level Public Security agencies of lists of organisations and individuals providing home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation services.

7. Chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees have the following responsibilities:

a/ To assign local public non-business units under their management to provide home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation services;

b/ To provide support funds for home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation.

8. Drug rehabilitation facilities, organisations and individuals qualified for provision of one or more than one stage of the drug rehabilitation process specified in Clause 2, Article 29 of this Law may provide home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation services and have the following responsibilities:

a/ To receive drug addicts and provide home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation services;

b/ To strictly carry out professional processes specified by competent agencies;

c/ Within 24 hours after drug addicts undergoing drug rehabilitation use services or stop using services at their own will or complete using services, to notify such to commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where such persons reside.

9. Qualified organisations and individuals may register to provide home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation services with Directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security.

10. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 33. Voluntary drug rehabilitation at private drug rehabilitation facilities

1. Upon completing at least 3 stages specified in Points a, b and c, Clause 2, Article 29 of this Law, a drug addict undergoing voluntary drug rehabilitation at a private drug rehabilitation facility is entitled to part of funding.

2. The duration of voluntary drug rehabilitation of a drug addict at a private drug rehabilitation facility shall be counted from the date such facility makes minutes of receipt of the drug addict.

3. For a drug addict undergoing voluntary drug rehabilitation at a private drug rehabilitation facility who has completed the duration and process specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 29 of this Law:

a/ The private drug rehabilitation facility shall issue a letter of confirmation of completion of voluntary drug rehabilitation for him/her and send a copy thereof to the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she resides within 24 hours;

b/ He/she shall show himself/herself and submit the letter of confirmation specified in Point a of this Clause to the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she resides within 2 days after receiving the letter of confirmation.

4. A drug addict undergoing voluntary drug rehabilitation at a private drug rehabilitation facility who has not yet completed the stages of drug rehabilitation shall complete at least 3 stages specified in Points a, b and c, Clause 2, Article 29 of this Law. The remaining duration and stages specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 29 of this Law shall continue to be completed in the form of home/ community-based drug rehabilitation. For this case:

a/ The private drug rehabilitation facility shall issue a letter of confirmation of completion of the duration and stages by the drug addict at the facility for him/her and send it within 24 hours to the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she resides;

b/ The drug addict shall show himself/herself, submit the letter of confirmation specified in Point a of this Clause, and register for continued home/community-based drug rehabilitation with the commune-level Public Security agency under Point b, Clause 2, Article 32 of this Law within 2 days after receiving the letter of confirmation specified in Point a of this Clause.

5. If a drug addict undergoing drug rehabilitation at a private drug rehabilitation facility terminates his/her drug rehabilitation at his/her own will but does not fall into the case specified in Clause 4 of this Article, the private drug rehabilitation facility shall notify such to the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she resides within 24 hours and coordinate with the latter in making a dossier for sending him/her for compulsory drug rehabilitation.

6. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 34. Voluntary drug rehabilitation at public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories

1. Drug addicts who wish to undergo drug rehabilitation shall register with commune-level Public Security agencies for voluntary drug rehabilitation at public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories. Drug addicts who have no stable places of residence shall register for voluntary drug rehabilitation at public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories.

2. A dossier of registration for voluntary drug rehabilitation at a public drug rehabilitation facility or reformatory must comprise:

a/ Curriculum vitae of the drug addict registering for drug rehabilitation;

b/ The drug addict’s application for voluntary drug rehabilitation. If the drug addict is aged under 18 years, opinions of his/her parents, guardian or legal representative are required;

c/ Confirmation of the state of drug addiction by the competent health establishment or the establishment providing medication-assisted treatment;

d/ The request made by the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency for consideration of consignment of the drug addict into a public drug rehabilitation facility or reformatory;

dd/ Other relevant documents (if any).

3. Directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security shall decide to consign drug addicts into public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories for voluntary drug rehabilitation.

4. Public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories shall issue letters of confirmations of completion of drug rehabilitation for drug addicts undergoing drug rehabilitation.

5. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 35. Application of the administrative handling measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation

1. A drug addict who is aged full 18 years or older shall be subject to the administrative handling measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation in accordance with the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations if he/she is not subject to being handled in accordance with the criminal law, when he/she:

a/ Fails to register for or fails to undergo, or terminates at his/her own will, voluntary drug rehabilitation, except the case specified in Clause 4, Article 33 of this Law;

b/ Is detected to illegally use drugs during the period of voluntary drug rehabilitation;

c/ Fails to register for or fails to undergo, or terminates at his/her own will, medication-assisted treatment or has his/her medication-assisted treatment terminated due to his/her violation of regulations on drug rehabilitation;

d/ Is confirmed to be addicted during the period of post-rehabilitation management;

dd/ Falls into the cases specified in Clause 3, Article 36, and Clauses 2, 3 and 4, Article 47, of this Law.

2. The measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation is not applicable to:

a/ Persons who have no administrative liability capacity;

b/ Women who are pregnant as certified by qualified medical examination and treatment establishments in accordance with law;

c/ Women or persons currently nursing children aged under 36 months as certified by commune-level People’s Committees of localities where they reside.

3. Dossiers of request for application of the administrative handling measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation shall be made from the date drug addiction is confirmed or drug addicts terminate medication-assisted treatment at their own will to the date the court makes decisions. The making of a dossier is as follows:

a/ For a drug addict who has a stable place of residence, the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she resides shall make a dossier of request for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation. For a drug addict who has no stable place of residence, the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where his/her last illegal act is detected shall make a dossier of request for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation;

b/ A dossier of request for application of the administrative handling measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation must comprise a resume of the drug addict, violation minutes, confirmation of the state of drug addiction by a competent health establishment or the establishment providing medication-assisted treatment, the request made by the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation, and other relevant documents (if any).

Dossiers of request for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation must bear entry numbers and be archived in accordance with the law on archives;

c/ After completing a dossier of request, the commune-level Public Security agency shall notify in writing thereof to the person requested to be subject to the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation or his/her legal representative. These persons may read the dossier and take notes of necessary contents within 3 working days after being notified;

d/ Within 1 working day after the deadline for dossier reading specified in Point c of this Clause, the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency shall decide and transfer the dossier to the regional People’s Court for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation.

4. The statute of limitations for application of the administrative handling measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation is 3 months after the drug addict commits the last act of violation specified in Clause 1 of this Article. If the drug addict intentionally evades or obstructs the application of the administrative handling measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation, the statute of limitations shall be renewed from the date of termination of such act of evasion or obstruction.

5. The public drug rehabilitation facility shall issue a letter of confirmation of completion of drug rehabilitation to the drug addict and send copies thereof to his/her family, the regional People’s Court that has issued the decision, the commune-level People’s Committee and the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she resides.

6. Drug addicts whose places of residence are unidentifiable and who have no working capacity shall be brought to social protection establishments upon the expiration of the duration of drug rehabilitation at public drug rehabilitation facilities.

7. The Government shall detail Clauses 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of this Article.

8. Regional People’s Courts shall decide on the application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation. The National Assembly Standing Committees shall specify the order and procedures for People’s Courts to consider and decide on the application of the administrative handling measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation.

Article 36. Compulsory drug rehabilitation for persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years

1. A drug addict aged between full 12 years and under 18 years shall be consigned for compulsory drug rehabilitation if he/she is not subject to being handled in accordance with the criminal law, if falling into one of the following cases:

a/ He/she fails to register for or fails to undergo, or terminates at his/her own will, voluntary drug rehabilitation, except the case specified in Clause 4, Article 33 of this Law;

b/ He/she is detected to illegally use drugs during the period of voluntary drug rehabilitation;

c/ He/she fails to register for or fails to undergo, or terminates at his/her own will, medication-assisted treatment or has his/her medication-assisted treatment terminated due to his/her violation of regulations on drug rehabilitation;

d/ He/she is confirmed to be addicted during the period of post-rehabilitation management;

dd/ The cases specified in Clauses 2, 3 and 4, Article 47 of this Law.

2. Dossiers of request for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation for persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years shall be made from the date drug addiction is confirmed or drug addicts terminate medication-assisted treatment at their own will to the date the court makes decisions. The making of a dossier is as follows:

a/ For a drug addict who has a stable place of residence, the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where he/she resides shall make a dossier of request for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation. For a drug addict who has no stable place of residence, the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality where his/her last illegal act is detected shall make a dossier of request for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation;

b/ A dossier of request must comprise a resume of the drug addict, violation minutes, confirmation of the state of drug addiction by a competent health establishment or the establishment providing medication-assisted treatment; written statements of the drug addict or his/her legal representative; opinions of his/her parents, guardian or legal representative; request made by the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation, and other relevant documents (if any).

Dossiers of request for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation must bear entry numbers and be archived in accordance with the law on archives;

c/ After completing a dossier of request, the commune-level Public Security agency shall notify in writing thereof to the person requested to be subject to the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation and his/her parents, guardian or legal representative. These persons may read the dossier and take notes of necessary contents within 3 working days after being notified;

d/ Within 1 working day after the deadline for dossier reading specified in Point c of this Clause, the chief of the commune-level Public Security agency shall decide to transfer the dossier to the regional People’s Court for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation.

3. The statute of limitations for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation is 3 months after the drug addict commits the last act of violation specified in Clause 1 of this Article. If the drug addict intentionally evades or obstructs the application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation, the statute of limitations shall be renewed from the date of termination of such act of evasion or obstruction.

If the drug addict reaches full 18 years of age or older at the time he/she terminates the act of evasion or obstruction, the court shall decide to apply the administrative handling measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation specified in Clause 8, Article 35 of this Law.

4. A drug addict aged between full 12 years and under 18 years shall undergo compulsory drug rehabilitation at a reformatory or public drug rehabilitation facility that is qualified for carrying out drug rehabilitation for persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years. When he/she reaches full 18 years of age, he/she shall undergo compulsory drug rehabilitation at a public drug rehabilitation facility if the remaining period of his/her drug rehabilitation is full 3 months or longer.

5. Reformatories or public drug rehabilitation facilities qualified for carrying out drug rehabilitation for persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years shall issue letters of confirmation of completion of drug rehabilitation for drug addicts aged between full 12 years and under 18 years undergoing drug rehabilitation and send copies thereof to their parents, guardians or legal representatives, regional People’s Courts of localities that have issued decisions, commune-level People’s Committees and commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where they reside.

6. Drug addicts who have no stable places of residence shall be brought to social protection establishments upon the expiration of the duration of abiding by the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation.

7. The Government shall detail Clauses 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of this Article.

8. Regional People’s Courts shall decide on consignment of drug addicts aged between full 12 years and under 18 years into compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities not as an administrative handling measure. The National Assembly Standing Committees shall specify the order and procedures for People’s Courts to consider and decide on consignment of drug addicts aged between full 12 years and under 18 years into compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities under this Article.

Article 37. Management of drug addicts pending the making of dossiers for consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation  

1. Commune-level Public Security agencies that make dossiers of request for application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation shall decide to hand over drug addicts who are requested to undergo compulsory drug rehabilitation to the nearest public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories for management pending dossier making.

2. During the management period, persons requested to be subject to the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation are entitled to regimes like those subject to compulsory drug rehabilitation. The management period shall be cleared against the drug rehabilitation period.

Article 38. Execution of decisions on consignment into drug rehabilitation facilities

1. Chiefs of commune-level Public Security agencies shall organise the execution of decisions of courts or Directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security on consignment of drug addicts into drug rehabilitation facilities.

2. Directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security have the following tasks and powers:

a/ To decide on public drug rehabilitation facilities under their management that may receive drug addicts for voluntary or compulsory drug rehabilitation;

b/ To transfer drug addicts undergoing drug rehabilitation between public drug rehabilitation facilities under their management;

c/ To organise the consignment of drug addicts into public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories;

d/ To decide on pursuit of persons who are obliged to abide by decisions on consignment of drug addicts into drug rehabilitation facilities but have absconded before being consigned into public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories.

3. The Director of the Police Department for Drug-Related Crime Investigation has the following tasks and powers:

a/ To decide on public drug rehabilitation facilities nationwide that may receive drug addicts undergoing voluntary or compulsory drug rehabilitation;

b/ To transfer drug addicts undergoing drug rehabilitation between public drug rehabilitation facilities not located in the same province or city.

4. The Director of the Police Department for Management of Prisons, Correctional Institutions and Reformatories has the following tasks and powers:

a/ To decide on reformatories that may receive drug addicts aged between full 12 years and under 18 years for voluntary or compulsory drug rehabilitation;

b/ To transfer drug addicts aged between full 12 years and under 18 years between reformatories.

5. The time limit for organising the execution of a decision on consignment of a drug addict for drug rehabilitation is 24 hours; the time limit for issuing a decision permitting a public drug rehabilitation facility or reformatory to receive drug addicts for voluntary or compulsory drug rehabilitation and organising the consignment of drug addicts for voluntary or compulsory drug rehabilitation is 24 hours.

Article 39. Postponement of, exemption from, or suspension of, execution of decisions on application of the measure of consignment for drug rehabilitation

1. Persons who are obliged to execute decisions on application of the measure of consignment into drug rehabilitation facility but have not yet been consigned into public drug rehabilitation facilities or reformatories are entitled to postponement of the execution of such decisions if they are seriously ill as certified by medical examination and treatment establishments currently treating them or basic- or higher-level medical examination and treatment establishments or if their families are in special plight as certified by Chairpersons of commune-level People’s Committees of localities where they reside.

When conditions for postponement of the execution of such a decision no longer exist, the decision shall continue to be executed.

2. A person who is obliged to execute a decision on application of the measure of consignment into drug rehabilitation facility but has not yet been consigned into a public drug rehabilitation facility or reformatory is entitled to exemption from execution of such decision in the following cases:

a/ He/she is critically ill as certified by a medical examination and treatment establishment currently treating him/her or a basic- or higher-level medical examination and treatment establishment;

b/ He/she is no longer addicted during the period of postponement of execution of the decision specified in Clause 1 of this Article;

c/ She is pregnant as certified by a qualified medical examination and treatment establishment in accordance with law.

3. If a person who is executing a decision on application of the measure of consignment for drug rehabilitation at a public drug rehabilitation facility or reformatory is seriously ill and sent back to his/her family for treatment, he/she is entitled to postponement of the execution of such decision and the treatment period shall be included in the decision execution period. After his/her health recovers and the remainder of the decision execution period is 3 months or more, he/she shall continue to execute the decision. Critically ill persons and pregnant women are entitled to exemption from executing decisions for the remaining execution period.

4. Regional People’s Courts and Directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security are competent to consider and decide on the postponement of or exemption from execution of decisions on application of the measure of consignment into drug rehabilitation facility under Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article based on applications of persons obliged to execute such decisions or applications of their parents, guardians or legal representatives if such persons are aged between full 12 years and under 18 years. Decisions on exemption from or postponement of such decisions shall be sent to commune-level Public Security agencies that have made request dossiers and persons obliged to execute the decisions or their parents, guardians or legal representatives if such persons are aged between full 12 years and under 18 years.

Regional People’s Courts and Directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security are competent to consider and decide on the suspension of or exemption from execution of decisions specified Clause 3 of this Article based on requests of principals of reformatories or heads of public drug rehabilitation facilities. Decisions on suspension of or exemption from execution of such decisions shall be sent to commune-level Public Security agencies, reformatories or public drug rehabilitation facilities that have made the requests and commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where such persons reside, such persons or their parents, guardians or legal representatives if such persons are aged between full 12 years and under 18 years.

5. Persons who are obliged to execute decisions on application of the measure of consignment into drug rehabilitation facility and seriously ill or critically ill whose places of residence are unidentifiable and who are entitled to suspension of or exemption from the execution of such decisions shall be brought to health establishments of localities where reformatories or drug rehabilitation facilities are located for treatment.

6. Persons who are entitled to postponement of, exemption from, or suspension of, the execution of decisions on application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation shall show themselves to commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where they reside.

During the period of postponement or suspension of the execution of decisions on application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation, if there are grounds to believe that such persons have absconded, regional People’s Courts that have issued postponement or suspension decisions shall cancel such decisions and issue decisions to compel the execution of decisions on application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation. Decisions to compel the execution of decisions on application of the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation shall be sent to commune-level Public Security agencies that have made request dossiers.

Article 40. Application of the measures of drug rehabilitation and management of illegal drug users for Vietnamese who are deported by foreign countries for their acts of illegally using drugs or drug addiction; and foreign drug addicts residing in Vietnam 

1. Upon their repatriation to Vietnam, Vietnamese who are deported by foreign countries for their acts of illegally using drugs or drug addiction shall have their state of drug addiction determined. In case their state of drug addiction is confirmed, they shall be subject to drug rehabilitation measures. In case their state of drug addiction is not confirmed, they shall be managed in accordance with this Law.

2. Foreign drug addicts residing in Vietnam shall register for voluntary drug rehabilitation at drug rehabilitation facilities in accordance with this Law and pay all expenses related to drug rehabilitation. In case of refusing to undergo voluntary drug rehabilitation, they shall be handled in accordance with law.

Article 41. Drug rehabilitation for detainees and prisoners

1. The State shall apply appropriate drug rehabilitation measures for drug addicts who are detainees or prisoners.

2. Superintendents of prisons, superintendents of detention facilities, heads of detention wards, and heads of custody houses shall closely coordinate with local health establishments in implementing Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 42. Post-rehabilitation management and support in places of residence

1. Persons who have completed voluntary drug rehabilitation, persons who have completed medication-assisted treatment, and persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years who have completely executed decisions on consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation shall be subject to post-rehabilitation management for 1 year after completing drug rehabilitation or completely executing such decisions.

2. Persons who have completely executed decisions on application of the administrative handling measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation shall be subject to post-rehabilitation management for 2 years after completely executing such decisions.

3. Drug addicts who have no stable places of residence after completing drug rehabilitation shall register their places of residence with public drug rehabilitation facilities for post-rehabilitation management. Public drug rehabilitation facilities shall notify such to commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where they register residence for post-rehabilitation management.

4. Post-rehabilitation management covers:

a/ Making lists of persons subject to post-rehabilitation management;

b/ Providing counselling and assistance, and preventing and combating drug addiction relapse;

c/ Managing residence of, and summoning and electronically monitoring, persons subject to post-rehabilitation management; providing body drug tests; and preventing and stopping acts disturbing security and public order.

5. Social support during the post-rehabilitation management period includes:

a/ Support for persons aged between full 12 years and under 18 years to learn academic knowledge;

b/ Support in vocational education, loan borrowing, employment and participation in social activities for community integration.

6. Chairpersons of commune-level People’s Committees shall issue decisions on, and perform, post-rehabilitation management and social support.

7. Chiefs of commune-level Public Security agencies shall:

a/ Make lists of persons subject to post-rehabilitation management; manage residence of, and summon and electronically monitor, persons subject to post-rehabilitation management; provide body drug tests; and prevent and stop acts disturbing the security and public order;

b/ Monitor, detect and stop acts of illegally using drugs.

8. The Government shall specify dossiers, order and procedures, management regime and policies on provision of support for persons subject to post-rehabilitation management.

Article 43. Harm reduction measures for illegal drug users and drug addicts

1. Harm reduction measure for illegal drug users and drug addicts are measures aiming to reduce harms of illegal drug use caused to such drug users, their families and communities.

2. Harm reduction measures for illegal drug users and drug addicts include:

a/ Medication-assisted treatment;

b/ Other measures specified by the Government.

Article 44. Responsibilities of families of drug addicts and communities

1. The family of a drug addict shall:

a/ Support the drug addict during drug rehabilitation, post-rehabilitation management and community integration;

b/ Coordinate with competent agencies and persons in making dossiers for application of drug rehabilitation measures; coordinate with related agencies, organisations and units in supporting drug addicts during drug rehabilitation, post-rehabilitation management and community integration.

2. The community where a drug addict resides shall:

a/ Give encouragement to and assist the drug addict;

b/ Coordinate with related agencies, organisations and units in supporting the drug addict during drug rehabilitation, post-rehabilitation management and community integration.

Article 45. Rights and obligations of drug addicts undergoing drug rehabilitation

1. To receive the whole or part of expenses for their drug rehabilitation in accordance with this Law.

2. To enjoy their occupational therapy results under the Government’s regulations.

3. To strictly and fully comply with regulations on drug rehabilitation and follow relevant instructions of professional agencies.

4. To pay expenses for their drug rehabilitation in accordance with this Law.

5. Other rights and obligations as specified by law.

Article 46. Rights and obligations of drug rehabilitation facilities

1. Drug rehabilitation facilities have the following rights:

a/ To receive drug addicts for drug rehabilitation as appropriate to their admission capacity;

b/ To decide to apply the law-specified measures to manage, educate and rehabilitate persons undergoing drug rehabilitation, for heads of drug rehabilitation facilities;

c/ To carry out revenue-expenditure and financial management activities related to drug rehabilitation in accordance with law;

d/ To enjoy preferential regimes provided by law.

2. Drug rehabilitation facilities have the following obligations:

a/ To comply with regulations on determination of the state of drug addiction, drug rehabilitation process, and management of persons for whom dossiers of request for consignment into drug rehabilitation facilities are being made;

b/ To respect life, health, honour, dignity and property of persons undergoing drug rehabilitation, persons requested for determination of the state of drug addiction and persons for whom dossiers of request for consignment into drug rehabilitation facilities are being made;

c/ To guarantee rights of drug addicts during the period of drug rehabilitation and issue letters of confirmation of completion of drug rehabilitation or completion of stages of drug rehabilitation in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws;

d/ To organise occupational therapy for persons undergoing drug rehabilitation in forms decided by competent agencies; to use occupational therapy results to serve drug addicts under the Government’s regulations;

dd/ To decide on pursuit of persons currently undergoing drug rehabilitation who abscond from drug rehabilitation facilities, for heads of drug rehabilitation facilities;

e/ To ensure their operation conditions, and publicly post up drug rehabilitation expenses at drug rehabilitation facilities in accordance with law, for heads of drug rehabilitation facilities;

g/ To prevent and stop the infiltration of drugs into drug rehabilitation facilities;

h/ To arrange drug rehabilitation wards or rooms exclusively for female drug addicts, drug addicts suffering group-A or group-B infectious diseases; for those who have differences between the actual gender shown on their bodies and the gender stated in their dossiers and personal records, to manage them in separate rooms in their facilities based on the actual gender shown on their bodies.

Private drug rehabilitation facilities shall also arrange separate wards or rooms for receipt of drug addicts aged between full 12 years and under 18 years;

i/ Within 24 hours after drug addicts are received, terminate their drug rehabilitation at their own will, complete the drug rehabilitation process or complete some stages of drug rehabilitation, private drug rehabilitation facilities shall notify such to commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where such facilities are located.

Within 24 hours after a drug addict absconds from a public drug rehabilitation facility or reformatory, such facility or reformatory shall notify such to the commune-level Public Security agency that has made the dossier of request for consignment of such drug addict for drug rehabilitation.

Article 47. Handling of cases of obligation breaches by persons undergoing drug rehabilitation, persons subject to post-rehabilitation management or persons undergoing medication-assisted treatment

1. Persons currently undergoing drug rehabilitation or subject to post-rehabilitation management who are sentenced to termed imprisonment shall, after completely serving their sentences while their drug rehabilitation period or post-rehabilitation management period has not yet expired, continue to undergo drug rehabilitation or to be subject to post-rehabilitation management for the remaining period.

2. During home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation or medication-assisted treatment period, if drug addicts fail to abide by the measure of electronic monitoring, they shall be subject to the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation.

3. During home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation or medication-assisted treatment period, if drug addicts commit one of the acts subject to the application of the measure of education in communes, wards or special zones in accordance with the law on handling of administrative violations, commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where they reside shall, in addition to handling in accordance with the law on handling of administrative violations, organise review of their violations and make minutes thereof. If they relapse into committing violations which are not subject to being handled in accordance with the criminal law, they shall be subject to the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation.

4. During home/community-based voluntary drug rehabilitation or medication-assisted treatment period, if drug addicts commit violations not subject to being handled under Clauses 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, they shall, in addition to being handled in accordance with relevant regulations:

a/ Have their first-time violations recorded in minutes and cautioned by commune-level Public Security agencies currently managing them;

b/ Have their second-time violations recorded in minutes and reviewed by commune-level Public Security agencies currently managing them;

c/ Be subject to the measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation for their third-time violations.

Article 48. Making of lists or removal from lists of drug addicts and persons subject to post-rehabilitation management

1. Commune-level Public Security agencies shall make lists of drug addicts and persons subject to post-rehabilitation management who reside in their localities.

2. When a drug addict or person subject to post-rehabilitation management changes his/her place of residence, the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality from which he/she moves shall notify the change to the commune-level Public Security agency of the locality to which he/she moves in within 24 hours after he/she leaves the locality for inclusion in the new list and coordinated management.

3. Commune-level Public Security agencies shall remove from lists of drug addicts in their localities:

a/ Those who have completed voluntary drug rehabilitation or completely undergone medication-assisted treatment;

b/ Those who are obliged to serve sentences; those for whom decisions on consignment into correctional institutions, reformatories or drug rehabilitation facilities have been issued;

c/ Those who have moved to reside in other localities;

d/ Those who are dead or declared missing by the court.

4. Commune-level Public Security agencies shall remove from lists of persons subject to post-rehabilitation management in their localities:

a/ Those who have completely executed post-rehabilitation management decisions;

b/ Those who are obliged to serve sentences; or execute decisions on consignment into correctional institutions or reformatories; or those whose state of drug addiction is confirmed;

c/ Those who have moved to reside in other localities;

d/ Those who are dead or declared missing by the court.

Chapter VI

STATE MANAGEMENT OF DRUG PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Article 49. Contents of state management of drug prevention and control

1. Formulating according to competence, or submitting to competent agencies for promulgation, legal documents on drug prevention and control.

2. Providing professional instructions and guidance on uniform application of the law on drug prevention and control.

3. Suspending or annulling according to competence, or proposing competent authorities to annul, regulations on drug prevention and control which are contrary to this Law.

4. Deciding on allocation of funds and ensuring conditions for drug prevention and control activities.

5. Building and managing the database on drug prevention and control.

6. Making statistics on drug prevention and control; reporting to the National Assembly on drug prevention and control.

7. Carrying out examination, inspection and commendation, and handle violations of the law on drug prevention and control.

8. Managing organisational systems, payrolls and human resources; providing training and further training on drug prevention and control.

9. Organising preliminary reviews and final reviews of, and scientific research into, drug prevention and control.

10. Entering into international cooperation on drug prevention and control.

Article 50. Responsibility for state management of drug prevention and control

1. The Government shall perform the unified state management of drug prevention and control.

2. The Ministry of Public Security shall act as the focal-point agency to assist the Government in performing the state management of drug prevention and control.

3. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies shall, within the ambit of their tasks and powers, carry out and coordinate with related agencies and organisations in drug prevention and control.

4. People’s Committees of all levels shall, within the ambit of their tasks and powers, perform the state management of drug prevention and control in their localities.

Chapter VII

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON DRUG PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Article 51. Policy of international cooperation on drug prevention and control

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall implement the policy of international cooperation in the field of drug prevention and control on the principle of respecting one another’s national independence and sovereignty; encourage international organisations, and foreign organisations and individuals to cooperate with Vietnamese agencies and organisations in providing mutual support in terms of physical foundations, building of legal capacity, information, technology, training and healthcare for drug prevention and control activities.

Article 52. Principles of international cooperation on drug prevention and control

1. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall implement treaties on drug prevention and control and other relevant treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party on the principles of respecting one another’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and mutual benefit; and cooperate with foreign countries, international organisations, and foreign organisations and individuals in drug prevention and control activities.

2. On the basis of the treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting member, this Law and relevant regulations, and international agreements which Vietnam has signed, Vietnamese competent agencies shall implement programmes on cooperation in drug prevention and control with related authorities of foreign countries, international organisations, and foreign organisations and individuals.

Article 53. Controlled delivery of commodities

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall execute requests for controlled delivery of commodities under treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party in order to detect and examine for penal liability persons who commit drug-related crimes. The application decision and the application of this method must comply with agreements reached between competent agencies of Vietnam and related countries.

Chapter VIII

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 54. Amendment and supplementation or annulment of a number of articles of Law No. 15/2012/QH13 on Handling of Administrative Violations, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 54/2014/QH13, Law No. 18/2017/QH14, Law No. 67/2020/QH14, Law No. 09/2022/QH15, Law No. 11/2022/QH15, Law No. 56/2024/QH15, and Law No. 88/2025/QH15

1. To amend and supplement Point a, Clause 2, Article 6 as follows:

“a/ The statute of limitations for application of the measure of education in communes, wards or special zones is 1 year after an individual commits a violation act specified in Clause 1, Article 90; 6 months after an individual commits a violation act specified in Clause 2, Article 90; or 6 months after an individual last commits one of the violations acts specified in Clauses 3, 4 and 6, Article 90 of this Law;”.

2. To amend and supplement a number of clauses of Article 90 as follows:

a/ To amend and supplement Clause 7 as follows:

“7. Persons specified in Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this Article who have no stable places of residence shall be consigned into social protection establishments or child care establishments for management and education during the period of serving the measure of education in communes, wards and special zones.”;

b/ To annul Clause 5.

3. To amend and supplement Article 95 as follows:

“Article 95. Measure of consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation

Consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation is an administrative handling measure applicable to persons who commit violations specified in the Law on Drug Prevention and Control for drug rehabilitation, labour, and academic and vocational education under the management by public drug rehabilitation facilities.”.

4. To amend and supplement Clause 2, Article 113 as follows:

“2. During the period of postponement or suspension of the execution of decisions on consignment into reformatories or correctional institutions, if such person continues committing the violation for which he/she has been handled or there is a ground to believe that he/she has absconded, the regional People’s Court that has issued the postponement or suspension decision shall cancel such decision and issue a decision compelling him/her to execute the decision on consignment into a reformatory or correctional institution.”.

5. To add Point c below Point b, Clause 1, Article 124 as follows:

“c/ Being requested to take a body drug test.”.

6. To amend and supplement Clauses 2 and 3, Article 131 as follows:

“2. For persons who have no stable places of residence or have stable places of residence but whose families disagree with the management, the management during the period of carrying out procedures for considering and deciding on the application of the measure of consignment into reformatory or correctional institution shall be performed by commune-level Public Security agencies of localities where persons requested to be subject to such measure reside or commit violations as assigned by agencies or persons competent to make dossiers.

3. The management period shall be counted from the date of making dossiers to the date the competent persons consign the drug addicts for application of the administrative handling measure under court decisions.”.

7. To amend and supplement Clause 1, Article 140 as follows:

“1. Home-based management is an alternative administrative handling measure applicable to minors specified in Clauses 3 and 4, Article 90 of this Law who fully satisfy the following conditions:

a/ They have voluntarily made declarations/statements, and sincerely regret their violations;

b/ They have living environments favourable for the application of this measure;

c/ Their parents or guardians have sufficient conditions for management and are willing to take charge of home-based management.”.

8. To replace the phrase “consignment into compulsory drug rehabilitation facility” in Clause 3, Article 2; the title of Article 115; Clause 2, Article 116; and Clause 9, Article 119, with the phrase “consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation”; to replace the phrase “heads of compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities, agencies and units” in Clause 4, Article 101 with the phrase “agencies and units”; to replace the phrase “heads of compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities” in Clause 1, Article 115 with the phrase “Heads of public drug rehabilitation facilities”; to replace the phrase “compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities” in Point c, Clause 1, Article 122 with the phrase “consignment for compulsory drug rehabilitation”; to replace the phrase “compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities” in Clause 5, Article 122 with the phrase “public drug rehabilitation facilities”.

9. To annul the phrase “and Article 118” in Point a, Clause 2, Article 102; to annul the phrase “, consignment into compulsory drug rehabilitation facility” in Clause 2, Article 105; Article 106; Clause 3, Article 111; Clause 3, Article 112; the title, and Clauses 1 and 3, Article 113; Clause 2, Article 114; Clauses 1 and 2, and Point b, Clause 5, Article 131; and the title, and Clauses 1 and 4, Article 132; to annul the phrase “and decisions on application of the measure of consignment into compulsory drug rehabilitation facility” in Article 107; to annul the phrase “and decisions on application of the measure of consignment into compulsory drug rehabilitation facility” in Clause 2, Article 108; to annul the phrase “, decisions on consignment into compulsory drug rehabilitation facility” in the title and Clause 3, Article 110; to annul the phrase “or decisions on consignment into compulsory drug rehabilitation facility” in Clause 1, Article 110; to annul the phrase “, compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities” in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 110; the title and Clauses 1 and 2, Article 111; Article 112; Clauses 2 and 3, Article 114; Point b, Clause 1, Article 124; and Clause 2, Article 132; to annul the phrase “, heads of compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities” in Clause 3, Article 112; Clause 2, Article 114; and Article 117; to annul the phase “and heads of compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities” in Clause 2, Article 132.

10. To annul Clause 16, Article 2; Point d, Clause 2, Article 6; Article 96; Clause 2, Article 101; and Articles 103, 104 and 118.

Article 55. Effect

1. This Law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

2. Law No. 73/2021/QH14 on Drug Prevention and Control, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 81/2025/QH15, ceases to be effective on the effective date of this Law.

Article 56. Transitional provisions 

1. Persons currently undergoing drug rehabilitation when this Law takes effect shall continue doing so until the drug rehabilitation period expires in accordance with Law No. 73/2021/QH14 on Drug Prevention and Control, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 81/2025/QH15, and Resolution No. 190/2025/QH15 on handling of a number of issues related to the reorganisation of the state apparatus, and be subject to post-rehabilitation management in accordance with this Law.

2. The drug rehabilitation of persons, who are in the period of making drug rehabilitation dossiers before the effective date of this Law but for whom drug rehabilitation decisions are issued after the effective date of this Law, must comply with this Law.      

3. Drug-related lawful activities, animal feed or aquatic feed containing narcotic substances or precursors that are licensed or permitted before the effective date of this Law may continue to be carried out until such licenses or permits expire.

4. Drug rehabilitation facilities that are issued operation licenses before the effective date of this Law shall continue complying with Law No. 73/2021/QH14 on Drug Prevention and Control, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 81/2025/QH15, until their licenses expire.

5. If dossiers of application for operation licenses for drug rehabilitation facilities are received before the effective date of this Law, the licensing must comply with Law No. 73/2021/QH14 on Drug Prevention and Control, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 81/2025/QH15, and Resolution No. 190/2025/QH15.

This Law was passed on December 10, 2025, by the 15^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, at its 10^th session.-

Chairman of the National Assembly
TRAN THANH MAN