The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Wednesday that the theme of this year's International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which falls on June 26, is "Sports against Drugs."
The Regional Center of the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) is scheduled to organize several events on this theme including a bicycle procession through Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia and stage performances in cooperation with the private sector in Thailand, according to the ministry.
The UNDCP Regional Center hopes that the narcotics-control departments of the Chinese government, as well as China's non-governmental organizations, will organize activities related to the theme.
Statistics show that by the end of last year, the registered number of drug addicts in China was 860,000, up from 681,000 in 1999.
Also in 2000, some 243,000 drug addicts in China were treated at compulsory rehabilitation centers. The increase in the total was due to the rising number of "ice" addicts across the country.
(People's Daily 05/09/2001)
