Urgent to counter youth appeal of new types of designer drugs

Saturday was the annual International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The China National Narcotics Control Commission, the country's top antidrug authority, instructed all antidrug departments in the country to launch publicity campaigns to mark the day and to keep young people away from new-type drugs.

Drugs are public hazards, and it has been a global consensus that the countries must strengthen cooperation to address the challenge.

Statistics from the Ministry of Public Security show China had about 1.8 million drug users as of the end of last year, declining for the third consecutive year. However, many new types of drugs are being designed with young people as their targeted consumers. It is urgent that the whole society is vigilant to this trend, and that young people's awareness is raised, so they take the initiative to say no to drugs.