Experts emphasize China's current drug rehabilitation system should include follow-up psychological treatment for addicts while encouraging stronger support from families and communities.

The system, which includes enforced and voluntary drug rehabilitation efforts, was established in 1990 when the State laid out its first drug regulations.

But during the decade-long implementation of the effort, the total number of registered drug abusers in China has soared from 70,000 to 1.14 million.

"It is now time for us to reflect on what's wrong with the system and what we can do to correct it," said Zhejiang-based drug expert, Du Xinzhong.

China's anti-drug regulation say that addicts caught for the first time must be detained for three to six months in enforced rehabilitation centres, which also accommodate those who volunteer to quit drugs.

Abusers who are repeatedly caught should be sent to local centres for compulsory rehabilitation, education and to do manal work. The duration could last as long as three years.

In addition, official health units have set up professional rehabilitation institutes for addicts who volunteer to participate.

Statistics in 2003 show China had 583 enforced rehab centres, 151 detention centres and more than 1,000 voluntary rehab units.

Du points out enforced or voluntary rehabilitation centres simply offer week-long, anti-drug medical treatment for addicts. Patients are usually released without any psychological assistance being provided.

"Also, quite a few spend times in centres for compulsory rehabilitation and education return to drugs as soon as they are released," said Du, who has been working as a senior doctor at the Zhejiang Jinhua Enforced Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts.

Wang Shirong, a medical policewoman at the Guiyang Rehab Centre for Addicts, said more than 90 per cent return to drugs again once they leave the centre.

Her words were echoed by Zhang Xiaofeng, aged 37, who has been at the centre three times within eight years. He said: "Two or three days after I left I resorted to drugs again to regain the `extraordinary' feeling the drugs give me."

Xu Dezhang, vice-director of the Guizhou Anti-drug Office, said: "International practices prove a user needs more than three years to kick the psychological addiction to drugs, during which the person must receive professional assistance as well as care from society and family."

Together with other experts, Xu affirmed the important role of communities.

"Guiyang Railway Division used to have 32 abusers in its company. Instead of firing them, the company decided to arrange 32 different workshops and asked every colleague to care for them and supervise them," said Xu.

"None of them ever turned to drugs again."

The notion of therapeutic communities was put forward years ago, but their establishment has been undertaken at a slow pace, although quite a number of provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have issued related documents.

"With limited workers, we are not able to follow up every patient when they go back into society," said Kong Qianxiu, head of the rehab centre in Guizhou.

"Either we prolong the treatment to three years or encourage all communities to continue to supervise and help addicts."

More problems

Since the country announced it would start a three-year "people's war against drugs" beginning this year, a lot of rehab centres in the country started to expand capacity with the aim of accommodating all drug abusers in society.

However, lacking staff and shortages of money have been two bottlenecks for the centres.

The largest enforced rehab centre, the Kunming Mandatory Drug Rehab Centre in Yunnan Province, said it has about 300 guards, to cope with more than 5,000 addicts in the centre.

"We are greatly short of hands," said Shen Jie, deputy-director of the centre.

He also pointed out that most addicts are unable to pay for their treatment. "We collect only 40 per cent of total fees each year, which can only cover food, accommodation and basic medical treatment," he said.

Normally an addict has to pay about 3,400 yuan (US$411) for three months of enforced rehabilitation or 4,200 yuan (US$508) for voluntary rehabilitation at the State-run centres.

The money is a major source of income for theses centres, which are expected to update facilities and sponsor more rehab programmes.

"Although we have developed a lot of farming rehab programmes, the turnout is just enough to feed these users, let alone enough to bring in extra cash to help with our development," Shen said.

The situation is a bit different at voluntary rehabilitation centres established by medical units, most of which hope to make profits.

Each participant is charged between 3,000 yuan (US$362) and 5,000 yuan (US$605) but only receive seven to 15 days' treatment.

"Plus, there is no clear safeguard to regulate voluntary rehabilitation, which results in poor management," said Zhejiang-based expert, Du Xinzhong.

He said many of them have become a "retail market" for drug dealers or a shelter for addicts to dodge detention.

(China Daily 06/25/2005 page3)