2025-06-11 –, BS 3.17 - 44 cap.
In June 2024, the Office of the China National Narcotics Control Commission published the “2023 China Drug Situation Report”, highlighting a seemingly paradoxical development in the nation's drug market. While the overall scale of drug abuse and the number of users of traditional illicit substances, such as heroin and methamphetamine, continue to decline, the substitution abuse of addictive substances, including certain narcotics and psychotropic drugs, has emerged as a pressing issue. This trend has been particularly pronounced in the post-pandemic period, where the high prices of mainstream drugs have driven many users to seek alternative substances that are more accessible, lower in cost, and comparable in effect. Substances such as etomidate, dextromethorphan, and compound diphenoxylate have become prominent in this context. The substitution abuse of these substances represents a notable shift in China's drug market, characterized by the increasing prevalence among younger demographics and specific regional concentrations. Multiple factors have contributed to the exacerbation of this issue. These include the iterative transformations in global drug markets, unintended consequences of China’s stringent “zero-tolerance” drug policies, the lagged effects of COVID-19 pandemic control measures, and deficiencies in drug prevention and education. However, a particularly significant driver is the misalignment between China’s traditional pharmaceutical regulatory framework and the realities of online commerce in the digital era. The convenience and limited oversight of online transactions have rendered the internet a de facto gray zone, fostering an environment conducive to the proliferation of illegal trade in addictive substances. Addressing this evolving challenge requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted policy response. The Chinese government could analyze the supply-demand dynamics of the drug market and address the structural factors influencing the supply chain. Integrating regulatory management with preventive strategies is essential. Furthermore, sustained reform of China’s drug control policies, tailored to the market-driven forces of the online commerce era, will be critical in mitigating the risks and curbing the proliferation of substitution abuse.
Yong-an Zhang, Professor and Director, International Center for Drug Policy Studies, Shanghai University
Yong-an Zhang is Professor and Director of the International Center for Drug Control Policy Studies (ICDPS) at Shanghai University. Dr. Zhang’s research interests include the international drug control policy, and China’s drug control strategy. He is member of the Executive Committee of Alcohol and Drugs History Society (ADHS), and a member of Editorial Board of The Social History of Alcohol and Drugs. His previous positions include visiting fellow of Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS) at the Brookings Institution (Fall 2010), visiting professor of History of Medicine at Yale University’s School of Medicine (2009-2010), visiting professor at the Centre for the Social History of Health and Healthcare (CSHHH) (Glasgow, UK) since 2016, and Foreign Senior Fellows of the The HK+ Institute for Integrated Medical Humanities at Kyung Hee University since 2024. Dr. Zhang is editor-in-Chief of the International Medical Hisotrical Review, and the Blue Book on International Drug Control Series, and he has published articles on these issues in both English and Chinese. His latest study is: Between Science and Politics: The American Medical Association and Origins of Drug Control, 1847-1973 (2016); Policy Choice in Changing Society: A Study on American Marijuana Policy (2009).