China sees sharp decline in new drug users

HAIKOU, Dec. 20 -- China recorded significantly fewer new drug users this year compared to the last three years, according to a national drug control meeting held in Hainan Province Thursday.

The number of new drug users recorded this year decreased by 63 percent compared with 2015, 56 percent than in 2016 and 43 percent than in 2017, with the proportion of drug-related juvenile offenders going down in 30 provinces and municipalities.

The China National Narcotics Control Commission launched a digital platform to promote drug prevention among adolescents in 2015. So far about 68 million primary and secondary students at over 170,000 schools have received education on the platform.

The numbers of major drug cases uncovered and drug labs destroyed in 2018 have dropped by 42 percent and 38 percent respectively compared with 2016.