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China to Issue White Paper on Drug Control
The Chinese Government will issue its first White Paper on drug control before the International Anti-Drug Day, which falls on June 26, the Ministry of Public Security disclosed Wednesday.
The White Paper in seven languages, to be issued by the Information Office of the State Council, will demonstrate to the world China's achievements and resolution to control drugs, said Deng Ming, an official from the Bureau of Narcotics Control under the Ministry of Public Security.
A press conference will also be held on the matter, Deng said. Along with the issuance of the White paper, China will launch a publicity campaign which includes lectures, discussions, open trials of drug dealers as well as burning of drugs, Deng added. Drug abuse has become an increasingly serious problem in China in recent years. By the end of 1999, registered drug users in China totaled 680,000, up 14.3 per cent or 85,000 addicts compared to the figures in the previous year.
According to statistics, of the total 680,000 registered drug users, 80 percent or 550,000 are male addicts; 78 per cent or 530, 000 age between 17 to 35; and 72 percent or 490,000 are heroin addicts.
Drug abuse problems involve 2,081 counties, cities and districts, up 48 from the previous year; The counties, cities and districts with drug users numbering between 100 and 1,000 amounted to 827, up 85 compared to the previous year. The counties, cities and districts with drug users numbering over 1,000 totaled 179, up eight compared to the previous year.
In addition, a total of 17,000 HIV carriers have been found in all the province, autonomous region and municipality. Of this number, 72 per cent took drugs intravenously. Experts said that the real number of HIV carriers in the country is approximately 400,000.
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