Chinese lawmakers are expected to adopt the country's first
anti-drug law, aimed at curbing drug-related crimes and reducing
the growing number of users, at the ongoing legislative session,
with revisions showing more care for under-aged addicts.
The law's final draft was "ready for adoption", the Law
Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) told the 31st
session of the NPC Standing Committee, or top legislature, which
began on Sunday. It submitted the bill for a third and possibly
final deliberation.
Lawmakers further revised the draft bill that was presented in
the final draft to be put to a vote in the coming week.
According to the law's second draft, "drug-addicted pregnant
women who breast-feed babies less than one year old, or minors
under 14, are not appropriate for isolated compulsive drug
rehabilitation".
Some lawmakers said compulsive drug-rehab measures should not be
considered as inappropriate for all minors as it was "an important
measure to educate, save and help addicts to shake off the
obsession with drugs".
"If some parents are unable to help their addicted children to
rehabilitate, and community corrections have proved ineffective as
well, then young addicts should receive isolated compulsive
drug-rehab," lawmakers said.
In an isolated environment, young addicts could receive
treatment specially designed for them. This, they said, would be
more effective and they could receive support from both their
families and the society.
In light of this, the third draft put the inappropriateness of
the compulsive rehabilitation for minors "from a mandate to a
choice".
After discussion with the State Council, or cabinet, and the
Public Security and Justice ministries, the third draft also
changed the age limit for compulsive rehabilitation from 14 to 16.
This was in line with China's Public Security Administration Law
that said "minors under 16 are not covered by the regulations of
administrative custody".
The third draft, hopefully to be adopted at the ongoing session,
also added, "urban resident committees and townships governments
should assist, supervise and urge communities to adopt correction
measures on addicts who are not fit for a compulsive one".
Lawmakers said the introduction of an anti-drug law was
imperative so as to prevent and seriously punish drug-related
crimes, protect public health and maintain social order.
Opium, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine hydrochloride --
commonly known as "ice" -- morphine and cocaine were listed as
banned drugs in the draft.
The number of drug takers in China grew 35 percent over a
five-year period to reach 1.16 million in early 2005, according to
police data.
Police estimates indicated China had more than 700,000 heroin
addicts, 69 percent under age 35.
(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2007)