Walk to mark International Anti-Drugs Day
By Li Jing and Cao Desheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-06-27 05:28

Nearly 10,000 Beijing residents braved the pouring rain and walked 12 kilometres to highlight the danger of drugs.

Sunday's participants came from all walks of life, although most were college students, to mark International Anti-Drugs Day.

A Chinese policeman stands as opium poppies were burnt during an anti-drug campaign in Bozhou city, East China's Anhui province June 26, 2005. A number of cities in China organized activities, such as burning confiscated opium poppy and holding anti-drug exhibitions, to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which falls on June 26. [newsphoto]

According to statistics from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, nearly 3,000 drug addicts in Beijing were sent to mandatory drug rehabilitation centres last year. A further 9,000 addicts went to rehab centres voluntarily.

Statistics from the Ministry of Public Security indicate the number of registered drug addicts in China reached more than 790,000 by the end of last year. More than 2,200 of the 2,863 counties were found to have drug users.

At least 27 billion yuan (US$ 3.3 billion) is spent on heroine each year, said Zhang Xinfeng, deputy director of the China National Narcotics Control Commission.

"Drug use, production and trafficking pose a threat to social security as they contribute to the AIDS epidemic and crimes like international terrorism, corruption and money laundering," Zhang added.

Huang Ende, 73, was one of 2,000 elderly people taking part in yesterday's anti-drugs walk, from Yuanmingyuan Park in the northwestern suburbs to the China Millennium Monument.

More than 10,000 people join to walk to promote war against drugs on the International Anti-drug Day in Beijing June 26, 2005. [newsphoto]

"I think everybody, including the elderly, has a responsibility to take part," said Huang after finishing the 90-minute walk.

"Throngs of people stood along the road and cheered. Many joined the parade when we passed by. It is a good way to let more people know the danger of drugs and how to say 'no' to them," Huang said.

The volunteers were aged between 20 and 80.

A student from the Beijing Union University told China Daily that drug addiction is no longer an abstract concept but a real threat haunting ordinary people, especially youngsters.

"Some people I know, including my relatives, have taken drugs," said the male student who declined to be named.

"But they have now given up drugs successfully. I know that addicts need a lot of love and care when they are giving up drugs.

"I am deeply touched that so many people are willing to take part in this anti-drug campaign. I hope that more and more people will pay attention to drug addicts and help them stop taking drugs," added the student.

To promote drug rehabilitation across the country, the central government invests at least 3 billion yuan (US$360 million) each year, Zhang said.

Around 100 million yuan (US$12 million) will be spent on increasing the number of rehabilitation beds in the next five years, Xinhua News Agency reported.

By the end of last year, China had about 140,000 such beds throughout the country, which far from meets demand, the report said.

China's anti-drug measures are facing serious challenges as the production and sale of drugs such as ice and ecstasy are on the rise, said Zhang.

"While imposing a serious crackdown upon drug use, production and trafficking, China will also make additional efforts to root out drug sources to curb rising narcotics-related crimes," he said.

Between 1998 and 2004, China broke more than 638,000 drug-related cases.

It detained 320,000 suspects and seized 62 tons of heroine, 60 tons of ice, 14 tons of opium and 1,538 tons of other drug-related chemicals.

(China Daily 06/27/2005 page1)

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