Beijing Center Educates Youth About Drug Addiction

Young students are the usual visitors to Beijing's anti-drug center. But on Monday's international anti-drug day, many students participated in a special contest on drug addiction. In the center's striking photos and educational materials, they are looking for the answers to the contest questions.

It's one of the programs intended to inform the public about drug addiction. A special part of the center is devoted to youngsters, to teach them how to stay away from drugs. Statistics show that China now has more than 680-thousand registered drug addicts. Eighty percent of these people are between the ages of 15 and 35.

Yang Wenjie, a college student said:" Before visiting the exhibition, I thought that most drug addicts are adults. The pictures told me that people even younger than me can become addicts. They can't enjoy normal school life or entertainment like us."

In China, educating people to stay away from narcotics and fighting against illegal drug trafficking are considered equally important. From 1991 to 1999, China's drug-control departments cracked more than 800,000 drug cases. Authorities confiscated about 40 tons of heroin and large amounts of other contraband drugs.

Feng Shuanping, vice-director of Anti-drug Division, Beijing Public Security Bureau said:" Drug addiction not only damages people's health, but is believed to be a source of crime. Drug-related crimes include murder, theft, robbery and fraud. We can say that drug addiction has a negative impact on social stability."

The more than eight hundred photos at the center quietly but vividly tell visitors that however beautiful the opium poppies are, the deadly heroin that is made from them can ruin lives. With a strong voice the center is urging people to say "Yes to life, no to drugs."

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/