YANGON, June 26 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar government on Tuesday called on the people to listen to the concern and need of youth and support their development and health by reducing drug abuse.

Minister of Home Affairs Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe made the call in his message on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which was marked under the motto of "Listen First."

Kyaw Swe stressed that as prevention is more effective than any treatment methods, preventive work through sharing of information and experience by rehabilitated drug users is needed, emphasizing the leading role of regional governments in reducing the danger of drug by conducting with the cooperative force of the public as well as civil society organizations.

Physical and mental rehabilitation of drug addicts for them to re-enter the society is being conducted, he said.

He highlighted that Myanmar has enacted a new national drug policy which deals with various sectors such as reducing opium growing, manufacturing and transport, providing alternative development programs, reducing drug use, increasing international cooperation, conducting research work, human rights oriented approaches and supporting social development of the people.

Reviewing the 1993 Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, an amendment to the law was enacted in February 2018 in support of the policy, he added.

According to Kyaw Swe, there are 26 drug addict treatment centers in the country with some 47 sub-centers as well as some 51 Methadone clinics established in high drug use townships providing replacement therapy.

According to the minister, counter narcotics agencies will reward 107 winners out of 3,500 public and student competitors for anti-drug writing, painting and photographing contest at a ceremony on Tuesday to mark the international anti-drug day.