Teens lead in new drug and unregulated substance abuse: top court

Teenagers have emerged as the primary group abusing new drugs and unregulated addictive substances, with a trend of younger individuals becoming the main users and perpetrators, according to China's top court. This announcement came on Thursday, a day before the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Despite a 32 percent year-on-year decrease in the number of minors involved in drug-related offenses and total cases in 2025, the Supreme People's Court emphasized the need for continued vigilance against these crimes.

Liu Weibo, chief judge of the SPC's Fifth Criminal Division, highlighted the diversity of substances involved, including narcotic and psychotropic drugs leaked from domestic medical institutions and pharmacies, as well as those smuggled from abroad. Some substances are disguised as milk tea, chocolate, or e-cigarettes, while others are marketed with claims of weight loss, energy-boosting, aphrodisiac effects, or even as drugs for date rape.

China has identified dozens of abused substances, with e-cigarettes containing psychoactive substances being particularly prevalent among minors, making them a primary vehicle for drug use in this group. Driven by curiosity, excitement, and peer pressure, some young people obtain drugs through various channels, while others are lured, coerced, deceived, or forced into drug use, becoming victims, Liu said.

Chinese courts have intensified crackdowns on drug-related crimes involving minors, with a focus on severely punishing offenses such as smuggling, manufacturing, and large-scale trafficking of new drugs, especially those involving minors, Liu noted, adding that harsh punishments are also imposed on crimes using narcotics and addictive substances to commit rape or threaten young people.

Severe penalties are reserved for juveniles involved in drug-related cases with malicious intent and repeat offenses, while leniency is considered for first-time offenders, those misled into drug use, or those coerced, Liu stressed.

The court is also formulating a judicial document on handling new drug crimes, with specific provisions for child-related cases, he said.