The Executive Yuan today approved a proposal by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to amend the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. The draft amendment will now be forwarded to the Legislature for review.
Premier Lai Ching-te said the drug campaign is currently one of the administration's top priorities and a major effort that will allow people to live in peace and order. This round of amendments aims to implement the New Generation Anti-drug Strategy, increase criminal liability for drug trafficking, and curb the proliferation of new drugs. It also includes resolutions from the National Conference on Judicial Reform to provide drug users with more medical treatment opportunities.
During his recent inspections of anti-narcotics operations, the premier regularly instructed prosecutors, police, investigators, military police, the coast guard, and customs officials to step up their coordination in order to keep illegal drugs out of Taiwan, stop drugs at ports of entry, and seize drugs inside Taiwan, he said. The premier asked the MOJ, the Ministry of the Interior and other responsible agencies to continue supervising the efforts.
The premier also directed the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the MOJ to adopt a community-based approach to drug treatment by increasing budget subsidies for local governments that provide harm reduction programs (including methadone and buprenorphine replacement therapies) for users of Schedule I drugs, as well as addiction counseling programs for users of Schedule II drugs. As for Schedule III and IV drug users—young people and students in particular—the premier instructed the MOHW, the Ministry of Education and other agencies to study how best to reduce negative influences and propose specific programs to deter repeated drug use.