Drug education

China targets school students to combat drug addiction
CHINA-DRUGS (INTERNATIONAL)
Created on : 01/08/2007 16:52 (PRI)
Beijing, Jan 8 Though drug addiction in China has soared by 54 per cent in the last seven years, the country has achieved some success in spreading drug awareness among primary and middle school students, an official said today.

Drug education in primary and middle schools nationwide has made students more capable of identifying and refusing narcotics, secretary-general of China Anti-narcotics Foundation Chen Xufu said.

A recent questionnaire-based survey conducted in several major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, showed 99 per cent of the 3,000 interviewed students in primary and middle schools were aware of the dangers of drug addiction.

A massive 87 per cent said if somebody offered them drugs such as ecstasy, they would refuse and report the incident to teachers or police.

Drug education is seen as a key component in the fight against drugs as there are more than 200 million primary and middle school students, Chen said.

These schools have made drug awareness part of the regular school curriculum.

According to official statistics, 7,58,100 of the 1,050,000 registered drug addicts in the country are under 35 years of age. The proportion is down from 77 per cent in 2001.