Drug addicts in China may be forced to attend compulsory isolation rehabilitation programs lasting up to three years, according to a draft law tabled to China's top legislature on Wednesday.
"The term of compulsory isolation rehabilitation programs is two years," reads China's first bill on drug control, tabled to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for a second reading.
The period can be shortened or extended depending on how drug addicts recover during the rehabilitation programs, according to the draft
"The rehabilitation term could be extended by one year at the most," the draft law says.
Forced rehabilitation programs usually last three to six months in China, but the practice has been frequently criticized by lawmakers, law enforcement departments and experts as being too short to be effective, the NPC Law Committee said in a report to the NPC Standing committee.
The bill stipulates that rehabilitation centers should only admit frequent intravenous drug takers, people who refuse community assistance or fail community correction programs, and those who live in communities without correction resources.
Rehabilitation centers will be organized to serve people of different ages, gender and levels of addiction.
The draft law also advocates non-discriminatory environments for people undergoing rehabilitation with regard to access to education, employment and social security support.
It also forbids rehabilitation centers from physically punishing or verbally humiliating drug addicts.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, the country now has about 720,000 drug abusers. More than 200,000 drug addicts underwent compulsory rehabilitation programs in the first eight months of last year.
Earlier reports said that the number of drug takers grew 35 percent in the five years since 2000 to hit 1.16 million in early 2005.
Opium, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine hydrochloride -- commonly known as "ice" -- morphine, and cocaine are listed as banned drugs.
Source:Xinhua
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