Shuai Shuai gets caught up in the shadow world of drug addiction

Shuai Shuai (not his real name) never imagined he would end up in a drug rehabilitation center after he returned to China from Japan in 2013.

"My future should have been promising," he told ChinAfrica. "But because of drugs, I have to restart my life."

The 26-year-old returned home after studying for six years in Japan and obtaining a master's degree. However, at a time when his family and friends thought he would have a bright future in China, he fell off the grid and got involved with drugs.

"I was under great stress as I could not find a satisfying job at that time and I didn't know how to deal with the pressure. So, I bought some methamphetamines on the Internet," he said.

Shuai Shuai initially used the drugs as a way of escaping stress, but soon found himself to have been addicted. "When my family found that I was addicted, they were on the brink of collapse," he said.

After much soul searching, he decided to seek help. "I am still young and I must be responsible for my family," he said. After a month's physical detox at home, he regained his health. "But my family still persuaded me to come here [Beijing's Tiantanghe Detoxification and Drug Rehabilitation Center] for mental detox, so that I can be fully rehabilitated, which now I think was the right decision," he said.

At the center, Shuai Shuai and other recovering addicts have no access to drugs. "Every day, we have psychological assistance, learn traditional Chinese culture and take part in sporting activities," said Shuai Shuai. "More importantly, we learn how to envisage our future when we get out of here."

Celebrity scandal

Like Shuai Shuai, there are many other young Chinese who have turned to drugs for various reasons, especially those in the entertainment industry, who have been making frequent appearances in the headlines.

On August 14, kungfu star Jacky Chan's son, Jaycee Chan, was detained on a drug-related charge, marking yet another case of a Chinese celebrity embroiled in a drug scandal.

The detention of the 31-year-old, himself a famous Hong Kong actor and singer, along with 23-year-old movie star Ko Chen-tung, also known as Kai Ko, from Taiwan, comes on the back of more than 10 Chinese celebrities detained for drug use in the first half of this year.

Ironically, many of these stars were related to anti-drug programs. For instance, Jaycee Chan's father was appointed as an anti-drug ambassador by China's National Narcotics Control Commission in 2009 and Ko also featured in many public service ads, calling on people to stay away from drugs.

Qu Xiaoguang, Deputy Director of China National Center of Drug Prevention and Education, said celebrities involved in drug abuse are setting a bad example. "They are exerting very bad influences on their fans, most of whom are young people born in the 1990s or even 2000s."

Severe situation

The growing number of drug users in the entertainment industry is believed to be only the tip of the iceberg. "These celebrities are popular among the public and their scandals usually arouse much attention," said Qu, adding that China is now facing a severe challenge in anti-drug campaigns as the number of drug addicts has grown in recent years, especially among the younger generation.

According to the Annual Report on Drug Control in China, released by National Narcotics Control Commission, China registered 148,000 drug users in 1991. However, as of April this year, that number had surged to 2.58 million. Of these registered drug addicts, 75 percent are people under 35. Observers say that the number of drug users that are not registered is even higher.

Easy access

"There are many reasons leading to the increase in the number of young drug addicts in recent years, such as negative influences of celebrities and their friends, heavy pressure, curiosity and not knowing the harm drugs can cause," Xiao Jie, Director of the Administration Department of Beijing Tiantanghe Detoxification and Drug Rehabilitation Center, told ChinAfrica. "But easy access to synthetic drugs is the most important reason." Synthetic drugs are products containing chemical substances artificially developed to mimic the effects of illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. They come in the form of powders, pills and dried herbs.

Compared with traditional narcotics such as opium and heroin, synthetic drugs are much easier to find and take. They are available at nightlife venues and even online.

Online shopping and express delivery services have developed rapidly in China, which, on the one hand, facilitated shopping, while on the other hand, made drug buying as easy as the click of a mouse. Though express delivery companies are required to check every parcel they deliver, it is believed that smuggling drugs inside the parcels is easy.

In addition, synthetic drugs are cheap, available from 15 yuan ($2.4) a hit, which is much cheaper than traditional drugs, such as heroin, at 80-100 yuan ($13-16.3) a hit.

"Because of these reasons, it is difficult for the police to find these addicts as they can buy and take drugs secretly," said Xiao.

Harsh punishment

Facing this severe challenge, the Chinese Government has strengthened its efforts against drug abuse, especially among the youth. On July 7, the State Council issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Anti-Drug Work, elevating the work to a national security strategy. According to the document, a series of measures, including a comprehensive campaign against drug abuse, community-based detox and rehabilitation and cutting off drug channels, will be taken to reduce the increase in the number of new drug addicts by 2020.

Drug users are also facing severe punishment. According to the Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security, those who provide others with narcotics or ingests or inject narcotics shall be detained for no less than 10 days but no more than 15 days and could, in addition, be fined not more than 2,000 yuan ($325). China's Criminal Law also stipulates that whoever provides shelter to a person to use narcotics shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of no more than three years. Drug sellers may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death.

Ko was detained for 14 days in Beijing, while Chan was formally charged with "suspicion of allowing other people to consume drug." The charge could put him in prison for a maximum of three years.

Mental detox

"It's good to see all these measures taken by the government," said Xiao. "Given the large number of drug addicts, helping them permanently reverse their addiction is an urgent and tough job for us."

According to Xiao, physical detox is only a very small step in the process of rehabilitating addicts. "Mental detoxification is more important in the process," she said.

Mental detoxification refers to the process where people who have been physically detoxified learn how to live normal lives after returning to society through psychological assistance.

Tiantanghe Detoxification and Drug Rehabilitation Center in Beijing's southern suburb of Daxing District was first established in 2007 as a department of Tiantanghe Compulsory Detoxification Center, and became an independent unit in 2013. Unlike the high-walled, prison-like image many people have of a detoxification center, Tiantanghe resembles a big garden with trees and fountains. At the entrance of each room, there is a board where the recovering addicts can write words of motivation to encourage themselves and others. The police working there do not wear uniform and most of them are certified psychologists.

"We do not force drug addicts to come here. They are here voluntarily, with the hope of totally overcoming their addiction through our psychological services," said Xiao. According to her, psychological consultation is the main way they help recovering addicts prepare for reintegration in society. "We also encourage them to do more sports," said Xiao.

Besides mental detox facilities, the center also has a gym and family members can live with the recovering addicts throughout the entire process. "All this can help them reestablish their confidence in facing what they did in the past," Xiao added.

Furthermore, the center has established offices in some communities, helping addicts to quit addictions at home and train local government officials on detoxification procedures. Meanwhile, it also cooperates with schools in Beijing and gives awareness lectures to students regularly.

"In the future, we will strengthen such cooperation so that young people can learn about the harm of using drugs when they are at school," said Xiao.