NEW APPROACH HELPS ADDICTS KICK HABIT

Zhao Zeng Was Once A Drug Addict.

But now the 32-year-old man looks hale and hearty, not at all like he
did when he was on narcotics.

With his hair set with gel, which makes him look pretty young and
energetic, Zhao shocks many when he tells them that he was once on
drugs for 10 years.

The change took place last October when an emaciated Zhao entered a
Beijing voluntary addiction treatment centre and volunteered to try a
new therapy called "community therapy ."

The community therapy , operated by the Ankang Hospital on the
capital's outskirts, has so far helped 110 addicts, including Zhao, to
shake off their addiction.

"At that time we had 28 drug addicts in the voluntary drug
rehabilitation centre, which is called the Sunflower Community," said
Lu Qiulin, the hospital president.

The community focuses on helping drug users overcome their
psychological dependence on drugs.

But beyond the common treatments used by most detox centres, the
community has developed many unique methods of its own.

According to Doctor Wang Zhiqiang, they make effective use of peer
education.

He believes it is more effective for people with the same
psychological problems to encourage each other to break the habit.

"Drug users here live as family members in the community. They live in
the community on an equal footing. They encourage each other to
achieve the same goal - getting rid of their addiction," Wang said.

But when two or more members of the group have disagreements, a "vent
meeting" must be held.

During these meetings, they can express their feelings freely, or they
can point out others' mistakes, while the others have the right to
disagree, said Wang.

"It's somewhat like a bickering match, and it often lasts as long as
two hours," Wang said.

But they are not allowed to use offensive words nor are they permitted
to leave their chairs, added Wang.

"We believe that these meetings play an important role in their daily
life, for from time to time drug addicts need to vent their anger or
stress," the doctor said.

In addition, drugs, violence, theft and sexual intimacy are absolutely
forbidden in the community, he said.

A disciplined life

On top of all group members having the same status, their daily life
is fully scheduled.

According to Zhang Yu, who has been in the community for four months,
she gets up at 7:00 every morning.

"Then I must begin my busy daily schedule," said the woman in her 30s.

Apart from attending lectures and meetings and taking part in sports
and other forms of entertainment, each resident is asked to do a daily
job.

Cui Xinhua, deputy director with the hospital, told China Daily that
the 28 residents are divided into four groups and each is responsible
for one job such as cooking, cleaning and drafting notices.

"Every newcomer is a junior family member," said Cui, "and if their
behaviour is appropriate, they may eventually be promoted to senior
residents."

Only senior residents can receive phone calls from outside and visits
from their friends, and they are even allowed to take part in the
management work of the hospital.

"We conduct daily assessments to let all residents hear who is good
enough to shoulder more responsibility," Cui said.

"For instance, Zhao is now a senior resident," said Cui, "because he
can not only take care of himself, but also help resolve the problems
of others."

The community is much more comfortable than the traditional compulsory
detoxification centres, although some of the members still miss their
families outside the home.

"In another month, I will be discharged from hospital," said Zhang,
who is apparently looking forward to going back home.

She said the first thing she will do is have a good sleep and that she
will never take drugs again.