Ngọc Chiến Commune works toward drug free status by 2030

Former drug users in Ngọc Chiến Commune, a mountainous area in the Sơn La province of Vietnam, are rebuilding their lives with help from local police, family members, and the community.

These individuals are returning to productive labor and seeking economic stability as the region pursues a goal to eliminate drug use by 2030. Tòng Văn Kiểu, a 52 year old man who struggled with addiction for over 22 years, returned to his village in 2023 after compulsory rehabilitation.

He now operates a tomato farm with his son in law on 5,000 square meters of land. This project generates an annual income of between 600 million and 700 million VNĐ and employs nearly 10 local people. Kiểu used the profits to build a two storey house and repair his relationships with his wife and children. Lò Văn Nguyễn also returned home after completing rehabilitation in 2024.

He currently manages an integrated farming and livestock model on 8,000 square meters of land where he raises buffaloes, cattle, pigs, poultry, fish, and snails. He plans to seek a bank loan to expand this production and increase his income while raising his four children. Local authorities are implementing public awareness campaigns and requiring households to sign pledges against cultivating narcotic plants. The local police arrested 20 people in 12 cases involving illegal drugs in 2026.

The commune currently manages 67 people with addictions and 28 people who illegally use narcotics, while 88 people have finished rehabilitation. Lieutenant Colonel Hà Văn Hải, deputy head of the local police office, says the unit prioritizes monitoring high risk areas to prevent relapses and ensure the commune meets the National Target Programme goals.