City expands rehab program

In an effort to improve the long-term recovery of people overcoming drug addiction, Chongqing has expanded its rehabilitation model by bringing together government agencies, social organizations and businesses to help former drug users rebuild their lives.

A key initiative was unveiled on Friday — the 39th International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking — with the launch of a WeChat mini-program, designed to connect people undergoing rehabilitation with employment opportunities and vocational training.

"By around September next year, when I'm released, I think I'll be confident about making a living," said Huang, a 41-year-old resident at the Jiangbei compulsory drug rehabilitation center who hopes to find work in auto repair through the platform.

Developed by the center, the mini-program links users with more than 40,000 companies offering about 130,000 job openings, according to Ai Jingkai, head of the center's reintegration guidance division. It provides full-time and parttime vacancies, personalized job recommendations and 24 government-funded training courses covering catering, livestreaming, computing, nursing and other fields.

"Employment is essential to successful reintegration," Ai said. "But many people recovering from drug addiction struggle because they lack job skills, employment opportunities and social acceptance."

To further support recovery, the center hosted a series of themed activities from Thursday to Friday showcasing new rehabilitation measures.

Among them is the "Little Orange Lamp" family education service station, which integrates rehabilitation services, family support and community assistance. It offers public lectures, career counseling and anti-drug education to help recovering drug users return to society.

"Drug prevention and rehabilitation are essential to maintaining social stability and advancing law-based governance," said Xiao Rongning, director of Chongqing's drug rehabilitation administration.

The events also included the appointment of community law enforcement supervisors, including local journalist Tan Jian, who said he would help promote greater transparency in rehabilitation work while sharing stories of scientific rehabilitation and humane management with the public.

Established in 1984, the Jiangbei compulsory drug rehabilitation center began admitting male residents in June 2023 after decades of serving female drug users. The center has been recognized by the Ministry of Justice's Bureau of Drug Rehabilitation Administration for maintaining 10 consecutive years of safe and stable operations.

Nationally, drug-related prosecutions continue to decline. From January 2025 to May 2026, procuratorates prosecuted more than 46,000 people for drug-related crimes, a 30 percent decrease year-on-year, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Chongqing has been at the forefront of rehabilitation innovation in recent years. In 2024, it launched China's first mobile application supporting voluntary drug rehabilitation by integrating medical and social services. The city has also strengthened prevention efforts among young people, with an anti-drug essay competition in April attracting more than 10,000 students from nearly 200 schools.

Contact the writers at dengrui@chinadaily.com.cn