ASEAN senior officials on drug matters (ASOD) gathered at their 35thmeeting and related events in Makati City, the Philippines from July 1to 4.

The meeting looked at how to strengthen border, air andseaport control and promote joint operations, adopt the United NationsOffice on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s international standards on drug useprevention, and increase access to alternative models on treatment andrehabilitation.

Besides issues involving thefacilitation of partnership programmes with local non-governmental andcivil society organisations, dialogue partners and internationalorganisations, they also exchanged information about the emergence ofnew psychoactive substances.

Back-to-backcoordination meeting with its dialogue partners was held with a view toseeking a greater bilateral dialogue and cooperation to combat drugthreat in the region.

They also discussed follow-updecisions and recommendations made by ASEAN member states, as adoptedby the first Special Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters in Thailand inAugust 2012 and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters in Bruneiin September 2013.

The annual ASOD meeting is meantto monitor the realisation and coordination of drug policies and actionplans, towards a drug-free ASEAN by 2015.-VNA