SHANGHAI / BEIJING - China issued the new regulation on drug rehabilitation on Sunday, the 24th International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The regulation will work as a supplement to the country's anti-drug law, which was implemented in 2008. For the first time it provides comprehensive provisions on drug rehabilitation work across the country.

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The regulation, which aims at exploring more comprehensive and effective ways to curb drug use, lays more emphasis on the role of communities and families in helping drug users reduce their dependency on narcotics and states that, "drug users are encouraged to voluntarily undergo rehabilitation programs" and "will be exempt from punishment".

"The whole process of drug rehabilitation includes physiological detoxification, physical and mental recovery and reintegration into society," Zheng Yuqing, an official from Shanghai Anti-Drug Commission, told China Daily.

Shanghai began to carry out community-based drug rehabilitation work as early as 2003 and has had good results.

"Compared with drug rehabilitation centers, local communities play a positive role in treating drug addicts and helping them get rid of their drug addiction and psychological dependence. A series of services offered by communities is very important for drug addicts to regain confidence and return to society," Zheng said.

Li Jimin, secretary-general of the Shanghai Anti-drug Volunteer Association, said: "Sometimes the public has a negative attitude toward these people. But such an attitude is bad for an addict's recovery."

Li said that their experience in community-based drug rehabilitation showed that care and acceptance are very important if addicts are to quit drugs successfully.

Li Wenjun, an associate professor at the Chinese People's Public Security University, said that importance of the regulation lies in its consideration for drug addicts.

"A complete process of detoxification involves three steps -- physical rehabilitation, psychological recovery and community reintegration," said Li. "However, only the first step was stressed in the past, and that resulted in a high recidivist rate among drug users."

According to the new regulation, treatment for up to nine years will be provided to serious drug users to guarantee their detoxification, while in the past compulsory rehabilitation lasted only three to six months.

"Drug addicts were treated like law offenders previously, but now they are considered more as victims and patients," Li said.

During the nine years in the voluntary, community-based, or government-ordered drug rehabilitation centers, drug addicts will receive counseling services and education on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other contagious diseases.

The Council of Shanghai Ziqiang Social Services, the country's first social organization providing professional guidance and service for drug addicts, launched its micro blog on eastday.com on Sunday.

"The online information-sharing platform can strengthen the communication with drug addicts as well as their families, giving them more immediate psychological guidance and related recovery services," said Chen Hui, a social worker with the council.

"In this way, more netizens and citizens can know our work and understand drug addicts, improving anti-drug awareness."

Xinhua contributed to this story.