China reports 1.14 million drug users despite heavy penalties

BEIJING, Jan 24 (AFP) - China registered about 90,000 more drug users last year for a total of 1.14 million despite the frequent use of the death penalty for trafficking, state media said Monday.
Xinhua news agency, citing figures from the ministry of public security, said 70,000 of the new addicts had not been registered until a nationwide anti-drug campaign last year.
Although the number of heroin users in China has dropped from 740,000 to 640,000 over the last 13 years, the ministry said, there has been a surge in abuse among young people addicted to methamphetamines, ecstasy and ketamine.
Chinese law dictates that those selling or producing as little as 50 grams (1.75 ounces) of heroin could face death.

01/24/2005 13:50 GMT - AFP