Drug control

Officials with the national anti-drugs bureau are leading a delegation to Vietnam as part of a three-day study on drug control methods, authorities said Tuesday. The delegation, which was scheduled to leave last night, includes members of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) and the ministries of health, social affairs, education and finance, said Meas Virith, the NACD’s deputy secretary general. “Vietnam is more experienced than Cambodia in controlling drug use,” he said. “We will learn what is good from Vietnam in order to avoid criticism.” Meas Virith said the trip would be focused on studying drug control issues. Last year, Phnom Penh hosted a delegation that included Vietnamese doctors, psychologists and a representative of a company that produced a product billed as an addiction remedy called Bong Sen. It was used on street drug users in December as part of a controversial programme that was criticised by rights groups. Vietnam has previously pledged to provide experts, medical equipment and medicine aimed at treating Cambodian drug addicts.