Number of current registered drug users in China 2018-2022
In 2022, there were 1.12 million current registered users of illicit drugs in China. Due to increasingly stringent controls, harsh punishments, and tighter border controls since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of drug users in China more than halved since 2018. Although the use of narcotics is not a criminal offense, addicts are usually sent to specialized rehabilitation facilities for treatment.