No detention for addicts
By Jia Feishang |
June 27, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Drug addicts in China can avoid detention if they visit rehabilitation centers voluntarily under new rules which took effect yesterday, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The regulation states that if users volunteer to quit drugs before being caught by police, they will not face the usual punishment of up to 15 days' detention.
With seven chapters and 46 articles, it also stipulates the rights and obligations of drug addicts, as well as support measures for voluntary, community-based and government-ordered drug rehabilitation.
To date, more than two million Chinese have been receiving compulsory rehabilitation or treatment, Xinhua news agency reported.
However, many of them find it difficult to completely give up their addiction.
The regulation, aimed at exploring effective ways of curbing drug use, calls for boosting "the role of communities and families" in helping reduce users' dependency.
It stipulates that there should be full-time officials and employees working in communities to help with the rehabilitation of drug users, and that volunteers are also welcome to take part in certain anti-drug activities and organizations.
AIDS prevention
China has a network of community rehabilitation centers for people who have been discharged from traditional institutes.
The regulation says that rehabilitation centers should to provide addicts with consulting services and education on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other contagious diseases.
Efforts should be made to "boost pharmaceutical management" so as to prevent loss or abuse of psychotropic substances and narcotics, the regulation says.
It also highlights the importance of protecting drug addicts' personal information, saying "members of the police, judiciary and health departments who cause the leak of personal information must be punished."
This is aimed at helping rehabilitated drug users enjoy fair treatment in education, employment and other social activities, because discrimination against the group still exists, especially when they look for work after quitting drugs.
1.35m addicts
According to official figures, China had more than 1.35 million drug addicts by the end of 2009, and more than 200,000 had been added to the list last year.
Zhang Xiaoqun, an official with the Shanghai Politics and Law Committee, said Shanghai already followed the practice of not punishing addicts who sought voluntary treatment but said the new regulation was the first time the practice had been written in legal form.
Zhang said the city's officials and workers in close contact with drug addicts were doing well in maintaining addicts' anonymity, as so far not a single case of breach of privacy had been reported.
Transnational drug trafficking remains rampant in China, particularly in southwestern border regions of Yunnan and Guangxi.
A report issued last month by China's National Narcotics Control Commission said authorities investigated 89,000 drug-related crimes and arrested 101,000 suspects last year.
Among the drugs confiscated were 5.3 tons of heroin and a ton of opium, the report said, adding that intervention programs were used to treat and rehabilitate some 175,000 drug addicts last year.
The regulation states that if users volunteer to quit drugs before being caught by police, they will not face the usual punishment of up to 15 days' detention.
With seven chapters and 46 articles, it also stipulates the rights and obligations of drug addicts, as well as support measures for voluntary, community-based and government-ordered drug rehabilitation.
To date, more than two million Chinese have been receiving compulsory rehabilitation or treatment, Xinhua news agency reported.
However, many of them find it difficult to completely give up their addiction.
The regulation, aimed at exploring effective ways of curbing drug use, calls for boosting "the role of communities and families" in helping reduce users' dependency.
It stipulates that there should be full-time officials and employees working in communities to help with the rehabilitation of drug users, and that volunteers are also welcome to take part in certain anti-drug activities and organizations.
AIDS prevention
China has a network of community rehabilitation centers for people who have been discharged from traditional institutes.
The regulation says that rehabilitation centers should to provide addicts with consulting services and education on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other contagious diseases.
Efforts should be made to "boost pharmaceutical management" so as to prevent loss or abuse of psychotropic substances and narcotics, the regulation says.
It also highlights the importance of protecting drug addicts' personal information, saying "members of the police, judiciary and health departments who cause the leak of personal information must be punished."
This is aimed at helping rehabilitated drug users enjoy fair treatment in education, employment and other social activities, because discrimination against the group still exists, especially when they look for work after quitting drugs.
1.35m addicts
According to official figures, China had more than 1.35 million drug addicts by the end of 2009, and more than 200,000 had been added to the list last year.
Zhang Xiaoqun, an official with the Shanghai Politics and Law Committee, said Shanghai already followed the practice of not punishing addicts who sought voluntary treatment but said the new regulation was the first time the practice had been written in legal form.
Zhang said the city's officials and workers in close contact with drug addicts were doing well in maintaining addicts' anonymity, as so far not a single case of breach of privacy had been reported.
Transnational drug trafficking remains rampant in China, particularly in southwestern border regions of Yunnan and Guangxi.
A report issued last month by China's National Narcotics Control Commission said authorities investigated 89,000 drug-related crimes and arrested 101,000 suspects last year.
Among the drugs confiscated were 5.3 tons of heroin and a ton of opium, the report said, adding that intervention programs were used to treat and rehabilitate some 175,000 drug addicts last year.
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