On June 30, 2015 the U.S. Embassy and Lao National Commission on Drug Control (LCDC) turned over $7,500 (more than 60 Million Lao Kip) worth of office supplies and media equipment to the Lao Youth Union to assist them in carrying out an Anti-Drug Civic Awareness Campaign in Vientiane and neighboring provinces.
U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Daniel Clune took part in the ceremony, along with Mr. Kou Chansina, the Chairman of the LCDC and the Secretary General of the Lao Youth Union, Dr. Vilavong Bouddakham.
LCDC Director Kou Chansina said that the LCD projectors received will assist the Lao Youth Union in making anti-drug educational presentations for school children. U.S. Ambassador Clune remarked that anti-drug campaigns in schools play an important role in warning children about the dangers of illegal drug use.
“We are pleased to support the Lao PDR in its efforts to fight drugs,” the Ambassador explained. “As the Lao PDR takes steps to integrate into the ASEAN Economic Community, increased cross-border trade will pose new challenges for the prevention of illicit drug trade and consumption.”
Since 1989, the U.S. has contributed over $47 million in anti-narcotics assistance to Laos.
Past and current U.S. anti-narcotics assistance includes training and equipment for law enforcement, treatment of drug users, activities to warn the public against illicit narcotics, and alternative development programs, which assist poor opium farmers to increase their income by growing legitimate crops.
The United States is proud to partner with Laos to fight an enemy of both nations, the East Asia region, and the world: illicit drugs.
