The Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation System in the Anti-Drug Law —— Based on an analysis of drug control legislation in contemporary China

Abstract

China's drug control has a centuries-old and troubled history. The relationship between China and narcotic drugs, in fact, has seen the alternation of phases of legalization and even incentives for the production and use of drugs, and phases of zero tolerance with harsh measures of control and repression, based on the political context and the influence of foreign states. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the drug control legislation in contemporary China, focusing on the 2008 Anti-Drug Law and, more specifically, on the regulation of drug addiction treatment. The first chapter provides a brief historical introduction of drug control in China up to the Reform and Opening Up period. The second chapter describes the drug phenomenon since the 1980s from a social, political and cultural point of view. The purpose of the third chapter is to outline the legislative context in which the Anti-Drug Law was introduced by analysing the main anti-drug laws that preceded it. The fourth chapter analyses the contents, reasons and critical points of the Law. Finally, the fifth chapter of the thesis focuses on the theme of treatment and rehabilitation of drug addiction, beginning with an overview of the chapter of the Law relative to this topic. The methods of treatment are presented, and analysed through the use of a case study. The innovations brought to the drug rehabilitation system by the Law and the criticisms levelled at Chinese treatment methods in the field of human rights are analysed.