Surprising Resignation of the NADC - Sam Lauthan: "I Left to Preserve My Self-Respect"

The resigning president of the NADC insists he did not face any pressure. However, he states that his fight continues.

Sam Lauthan officially submitted his resignation letter as president of the National Agency for Drug Control (NADC) yesterday, Monday, December 15, at the Prime Minister's office. This decision caught the board of directors by surprise. In a phone call later that evening, he clarified that his decision was made freely, without any pressure, and to maintain his integrity. However, he chose not to go into details.

"The circumstances led me to decide that, to preserve my self-respect, I had to leave," he explained. At 80 years old, Sam Lauthan wants to clarify that this resignation does not signify the end of his commitment to the fight against drugs. "My struggle continues. At my age, I will fight this battle with or without the NADC," he asserts with determination, recalling that he began his efforts at the age of 17.

A well-known figure for his grassroots action, he aims to reassure families and parents who often reach out to him: "I will continue my home visits and will always be present in this fight, alongside many parents."

Sam Lauthan also indicated that he will continue to collaborate with authorities on drug-related issues, believing that this struggle transcends official roles and institutional structures. "What matters is helping and protecting our youth and families," he insists. Finally, he denies any suggestion of coercion or pressure that prompted his resignation. "I left with complete integrity," he states.

Just the day before, on Sunday, Sam Lauthan had participated in a working session against drugs. He emphasized that for the NADC, the priority remains prevention and repression, supported by ongoing grassroots efforts. He also noted that the greatest danger remains indifference, calling for collective and sustained mobilization. "We need to prepare the next generation and have the resilience to carry this fight through to the end," he had declared.