DRUG PROBLEM ON THE RISE IN CHINA

China has a rapidly growing drug problem, with a 25 per cent increase in
the number of drug addicts and rising seizures of illicit drugs.

Figures released by the National Narcotics Control Commission at a
conference in Beijing show there were 860,000 registered drug addicts in
China by the end of last year. An official white paper on narcotic abuse
issued by the central government last June put the figure at 681,000.

The official figures suggest a six-fold increase in drug addicts over the
past decade.

Police seized 30 per cent more methamphetamines last year, the
English-language China Daily reported at the weekend.

The narcotics control commission said police recorded 96,189 drug cases in
2000, almost double the number in the previous year. About 57,000 suspected
drug dealers were arrested.

Public Security Minister Jia Chunwang said China faced a growing problem
with imported and domestically produced drugs. China borders the "Golden
Triangle" area of Burma, Thailand and Laos and many shipments of heroin
make their way into and through China.

"More than 95 per cent of China's heroin consumption was smuggled from the
Golden Triangle," Mr Jia said.

Law enforcement authorities have pledged a comprehensive campaign to tackle
the country's drug problem. Serious drug offences, such as trafficking,
attract the death penalty in China. The government last year announced a
"show no mercy" policy to traffickers and users.

Most Chinese drug addicts are heroin users. About 6.3 tonnes of heroin were
seized last year - one tonne more than in 1999. In addition, 2.4 tonnes of
opium and 20 tonnes of methamphetamines were also confiscated.

Almost 80 per cent of drug users in China are aged under 35 years,
according to the government. The drug problem is worst in the south of the
country, but there is reportedly an increasing drug problem in many major
Chinese cities.

Historically, China has been plagued by drug use. Widespread opium
addiction during the 18th and 19th centuries crippled the Chinese economy
and its people, especially in the south. The importation of opium into
China by the British in the 18th century led to two wars and contributed to
the end of the Qing dynasty.

Dealing with opium addiction was a priority of the communist regime in the
1950s. Strict enforcement and re-education programs saw drug use largely
eradicated until a decade or so ago.