title: Drug problems in contemporary China: a profile of Chinese drug users in a metropolitan area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drug problems are reemerging in China since the nation implemented economic reform and an "open door" policy in the early 1980s. This is causing both national and international concern. However, knowledge and understanding of the Chinese drug problem is fairly limited because of the nation's unique social and political history. In response to this shortage of information, our study presents a profile of Chinese drug users.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from a survey of drug users attending mandatory treatment centres in a large city in 2009. We present a demographic profile of the drug users, describe their patterns of drug use, their access to drugs and their history of drug treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chinese drug users, like those from the U.S., are likely to be unemployed and have a low level of education. However, they are more likely than those in the U.S. to use heroin, Bingdu (methamphetamine) and Maguo (a derivative of methamphetamine), and they pay less for their drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This profile of drug users is informative and valuable for drug prevention, intervention, and treatment in the Chinese setting because knowing and understanding the drug population is essential for effective control.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Drugs, Crime, and Public Policy, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, China. skyhkch@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Kaicheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lening
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jianhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs