International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 149-154, May 2010

Looking for a solution for drug addiction in China: Exploring the challenges and opportunities in the way of China's new Drug Control Law

  • Yu Liu

      Affiliations

    • School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
    • ,
  • Juncheng Liang

      Affiliations

    • National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    • ,
  • Chengzheng Zhao

      Affiliations

    • National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    • ,
  • Wenhua Zhou

      Affiliations

    • School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
    • Ningbo Addiction Treatment and Research Center, Ningbo 315010, China
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Treatment and Research Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, 42 Xibei Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, China. Tel.: +86 574 87282380; fax: +86 574 87345976.

Received 20 July 2009; received in revised form 5 October 2009; accepted 8 October 2009. published online 09 November 2009.

Abstract 

In the wake of the deteriorating situation of drug addiction and related infectious diseases among injecting drug users (IDUs) in China in recent years, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China adopted the new Drug Control Law which came into force in June 1, 2008. This law is part of a broad reform movement in China where drug addiction is no longer understood as simply a legal or moral issue but rather, as a complicated medical condition requiring comprehensive therapeutic strategies. Although the Drug Control Law draws a distinct line from previous Drug Control regulations in the country, there have still been dilemmas along the implementation process. This paper is intended to elaborate on the general principles of China's latest Drug Control Law from the point of view of scholars who are involved in the field of drug addiction research and treatment in China. This paper will also discuss the challenges we are currently facing, based on the observations and practical experiences the authors have obtained in China. It is hoped that by addressing these issues, we will be able to implement the new Drug Control Law more successfully and ensure that we deal more effectively with drug addiction in China.

Keywords: Drug Control, Detoxification, Addiction, Treatment, Community

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PII: S0955-3959(09)00128-5

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.10.002

International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 149-154, May 2010

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