Current situation and trends of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS in China

摘要

Drug abuse re-emerged in mainland China in the 1980s and has spread dramatically over the last decades; the cumulative number of registered drug users increased to 1.16 million by the end of 2005. Among them, 78.3% were heroin addicts and the majority of them (50-70%) were injecting drug users. The abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants emerged at the end of the 1990s and spread quickly. Injecting drug use and unsafe sexual behavior among drug users have been the key factors in the spread of HIV/AIDS. By the end of September 2008, the cumulative total of reported HIV/AIDS cases was 264,302 in China. The Chinese government takes great measures and strategies to prevent HIV/AIDS transmission and reduce drug-related harms, including methadone-maintenance treatment and needle-exchange programs. Moreover, antiretroviral therapy has been provided for AIDS patients. The Chinese government will continue to implement strategies to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among drug users in the future. Drug abuse in China is impacting public health, and economic and social stability. Historically, China has suffered from the scourge of opium use for almost 200 years. In 1949, the total number of opium users was estimated to be approximately 20 million, equivalent to 4.4% of the total population. A nationwide drug prohibition campaign was launched based on the 'Order Prohibiting the Taking of Opium' issued by the Chinese government administration council in the early 1950s. The cultivation of 'poppies' and the manufacture, traffic and trade of opiates were strictly prohibited. Drug offenders were penalized seriously and people dependent on opiates were sent to special treatment agencies for detoxification and rehabilitation. The drug prohibition campaign led by the Chinese government won the wholehearted support of the people. By the end of 1952, less than 3 years later, the drug problem was virtually eradicated in China. Subsequently, China avoided the scourge of opiates for more than 3