Pubdate: Mon, 27 Jun 2005
Source: China Daily (China)
Contact:   http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/911
Section: pg 2
Author: Guan Xiaofeng
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

EDUCATION KEY TO WAR ON DRUGS, GOV'T TOLD

With young people making up 70 per cent of China's drug users, to curb
the spread of drugs among China's youth has become an urgent task in
the country's wider war on drugs.

At the Seventh Forum on Juvenile Drug and AIDS Prevention Education
held on Friday in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, experts and
educators alike urged the government to step up anti-drug education
among the young.

According to statistics provided by the National Narcotics Control
Commission, China is now home to 791,000 drug users, a growth of 6.8
per cent over last year.

And people under 35 years old make up 70 per cent of this total.
"Youngsters are now becoming victims of new types of drugs like
'head-shaking' pills, 'ice,' and ketamine powder," said Han Qide,
vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Pi Yijun, a professor from China University of Political Science and
Law, said: "These new types of drugs are making their way into public
entertainment venues, posing a greater threat to teenagers who are
vulnerable to temptation."

And most are not even aware of the consequences of drug use, Pi
said.

Even in a modern city like Shanghai, drug prevention is an uphill
battle.

Sui Dingzhong, a teacher from Shanghai Beihai High School, said 82 per
cent of Shanghai's adolescent drug users became addicted without
knowing the harm drugs cause, citing a survey conducted by the city's
narcotics control authorities.

The school has attached greater importance to anti-drug education in
recent years and has been chosen by the Ministry of Education as a
model school in drug prevention education.

Drug prevention has become a subject that lasts for a semester for the
school's junior grade 2 students.

And students are encouraged to volunteer and head into neighbouring
communities to promote anti-drugs awareness.

"We should educate our children to keep away from drugs in the way we
have them vaccinated them against diseases," Sui said.

"We have all seen the government's resolution and efforts in fighting
drugs. For example, the government has pooled a huge fund for building
drug rehabilitation centres," said Cheng Feng, director of Family
Health International (FHI), China.

According to an FHI survey conducted in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous
Region, those aged between 14 and 19 make up 43 per cent of local drug
users.

The government should pay equal attention to anti drug education
because it is perhaps the most effective and cost-efficient way to
eliminate drug use, Cheng said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin