At Thursday's weekly Cabinet meeting, Premier Cho Jung-tai received a Ministry of Justice (MOJ) report on the current and future implementation of measures for drug control and drug-impaired driving prevention. The premier said that following the launch of measures to combat illicit drugs and drug-impaired driving in June, traffic accidents involving drug-impaired driving have dropped by 33%. He directed the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office to continue coordinating the government's six main anti-drug enforcement systems, enhance technology-driven investigative capabilities and data analytics, intensify crackdown efforts, and work with international intelligence partners to trace drug sources and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.
To strengthen drug control and drug-impaired driving prevention, Premier Cho instructed the MOJ to improve the regulatory framework and testing procedures for emerging drugs, and the National Police Agency to continue strong enforcement efforts against drug-impaired driving through roadside inspections, targeted checks and other measures.
Regarding e-cigarette control, the premier directed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to complete four tasks: (1) proactively communicate with all party caucuses to expedite the passage of amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act; (2) coordinate with local governments to swiftly develop plans for expanding inspection and administrative personnel capacity; (3) work with customs authorities, airlines and travel agencies to boost public awareness at the border and among inbound travelers, while using various communication channels to publicize the prohibition on e-cigarette use and possession; and (4) partner with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to establish a reporting system for e-cigarette incidents on school campuses and develop educational campaigns to raise young people's awareness of the harms of illicit drugs and e-cigarettes.
On campus anti-drug efforts, Premier Cho instructed the MOE to ensure that teaching staff at all levels are fully prepared before the start of the next school year—including in preventive education, safety inspections and student guidance—so that anti-drug initiatives can be implemented effectively from the first day of classes, helping protect the next generation from the dangers of illicit drugs and e-cigarettes.