“Social instability and poverty here all trace back to drugs. It’s heartbreaking to see households where both husband and wife, father and son, or several siblings are addicted. Fields lie fallow, property is sold off to feed the addiction, it drags entire families into unrelenting poverty”, said Cháng A Dè, Chairman of the Nà Bủng commune People’s Committee, describing the community’s deep-rooted struggle with drugs.

Dè, without consulting any files, can readily list the names and circumstances of known drug addicts in the commune.

Take the case of S. A. D. in Nà Bủng 2. Years of drug abuse have ravaged his body. Once the family’s main breadwinner, he now spends his days idle at home. Tragically, both of his sons have followed in his footsteps, becoming addicted to opiates as well.

Inside their rundown bamboo shack, which houses five people, every valuable possession has been sold off to buy drugs for him and his sons. The two remaining family members - his wife and daughter- struggle daily just to put food on the table. They take on whatever odd jobs they can find in the village, but the family’s economic situation continues to spiral downward.

Similarly, in Púng Pá Kha village, both M. A. K. and his wife are long-term addicts. Over the years, they have sold their house, land, and even household items to fund their heroin and opium habits. Their two children have been left to grow up in neglect, lacking proper care or education. Their future remains uncertain and bleak.

K. is well aware of the dangers and consequences of drug abuse. However, quitting has proven nearly impossible. He and his wife have gone through multiple cycles of rehab and relapse.

Currently, Nà Bủng has 91 registered drug addicts, half of the total number in the entire district. This high rate of addiction presents major challenges for the commune, especially in poverty reduction, job creation, and implementation of social welfare policies. Nearly 61% of households in the commune live below the poverty line. In some villages like Pá Kha, Nương, and Ngải Thầu, the poverty rate exceeds 70%.

“In addition to those under official supervision, the number of suspected addicts in Nà Bủng is easily in the hundreds. Local authorities have visited every household with addicts, urging them to enter rehab. But many still can’t quit. Some manage to stay clean for a while but inevitably relapse”, added Dè.

The drug problem in Nà Bủng affects not only social welfare but also local security, with rising drug-related crimes adding further complexity.

According to Major Lèng Văn Tuân, Head of the Nà Bủng commune Police, law enforcement has ramped up its presence and encouraged community involvement in reporting drug activity. The police also work closely with other agencies to detect and address offenses quickly.

From the beginning of 2025 to now, Nà Bủng Police have directly handled 4 drug-related cases involving 4 suspects, and collaborated on 8 more cases with 8 suspects. They have also convinced 2 addicts to enter mandatory rehabilitation.

Major Tuân added that with a strong determination to rid the community of drugs and reduce the harm they cause, police regularly monitor addicts, conduct home visits, issue warnings, and educate offenders. They keep a close eye on the movements of known addicts and focus on forecasting and analyzing trends to create targeted intervention plans.

Compared to five years ago, Nà Bủng has seen some progress, with the number of addicts cut in half. Still, drug prevention and harm reduction remain major challenges for local authorities and law enforcement. Ultimately, success hinges on addicts themselves taking the first step, choosing to break free from addiction.