Chinas top legislature is reviewing the countrys first anti-drug law designed specifically to crack down on drug trafficking. The draft law also advocates a more humanitarian approach for people undergoing rehabilitation, forbidding drug treatment centres from physically punishing or verbally humiliating drug users. The draft bill lists banned drugs that include opium, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine hydrochloride, morphine and cocaine.
The new law will enable many drug users to receive treatment in their communities rather than being confined to rehabilitation centres as is currently the case. The bill also orders local government bodies above county level to open drug rehab centres as needed so that drug users can volunteer to undergo treatment.
While the humanitarian aspects of the new law are being emphasised, however, the bills primary function is to step up the states anti-drug efforts. New powers would enable police to force those suspected of taking drugs to take biological body sample tests and proven drug users would be registered and forced to undertake rehab. Those who voluntarily come forward to the police would be exempt from punishment.
Zhang Xinfeng, Vice Minister of Public Security spoke to lawmakers of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress: Drug takers are law violators, but they are also patients and victims. Punishment is needed, but education and assistance are more important.
Between 2000 and 2005 the number of drug users in China rose by 35 per cent to an estimated 1.16million, reports China Daily, the state run English language newspaper. Police data suggests that there are over 700,000 problem heroin users in China, of whom 69 per cent are under the age of 35.
Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn
Posted: 25th August 2006
