In response to the rising abuse of addictive prescription drugs, especially among young people, China has launched a nationwide online education and awareness campaign targeting youth abuse and issued a joint initiative co-signed by seven government agencies via the official WeChat account of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on Friday.
The campaign, running from June to December 2025, is jointly led by the CAC, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Security, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF), and the Office of the National Narcotics Control Commission.
Amid efforts to curb the spread of drug-related content online and crack down on illegal activities involving addictive prescription drugs, the campaign seeks to educate the general public—especially young people—about the dangers of misusing such substances.
According to the official WeChat account of CAC, in recent years, some teenagers—lacking sufficient knowledge about addictive prescription drugs—have been misled and deceived by harmful content, particularly online content, promoting these substances. As a result, cases of misuse have occurred from time to time, with some leading to serious crimes, accidents, and violent incidents. This poses a significant threat to the physical and mental health of young people and to overall social safety and stability.
The initiative noted that substances such as etomidate, dextromethorphan, and tramadol are medications used for treatment but are also classified as controlled narcotic and psychotropic drugs in China. It urged young people to use such medications strictly under medical supervision, warning that non-medical use constitutes illegal drug abuse. The initiative called on youth to be alert to so-called “harmless” lies and to have the courage to say “no” to temptation.
It also emphasized the need for families and society to share responsibility in drug prevention, promote a clean and safe online environment, and build a strong protective barrier to support healthy youth development. When children show signs of emotional distress or loss of control, it is essential to provide them with professional help in a timely manner. With love as the shield and science as the sword, the initiative called for upholding the principle of “healthy lives, drug-free futures” and making every effort to prevent youth from abusing addictive prescription drugs.
It urged the public to report drug-related content and activity, help dismantle trafficking networks, and work to build a safer, drug-free digital and social environment.
环球时报
