China’s drug-related cases decline, but new drug challenges emerge

China has experienced a steady decrease in drug-related cases, yet issues involving new types of drugs are becoming increasingly prominent, according to China's top court.

Data released by the Supreme People's Court on Monday showed that Chinese courts concluded 23,732 first-instance drug-related cases in 2025, marking a 33.82 percent fall from the 36,000 cases in 2024 and an 82.93 percent drop from the 139,000 cases in 2015.

The top court emphasized that the continued significant drop in the number of drug-related cases is closely linked to ongoing efforts, stringent crackdowns, and effective governance in the country's anti-drug fight. However, it pointed out that due to various international and domestic factors, the current drug situation in China remains complex and volatile.

"In particular, the issues of new types of drugs are becoming increasingly prominent in recent years, presenting challenges for anti-drug efforts," it stated.

While traditional drugs have been effectively curbed under intense pressure, some individuals have turned their attention to medical narcotics, psychotropic substances, and new psychoactive substances as alternatives to traditional drugs for abuse and trafficking. This shift has led to an overall increasing trend in the number of new drug-related cases.

The court noted that new drug cases have already surpassed traditional drug cases in some regions, with new drug cases accounting for more than half of all drug-related cases in certain provinces.

"New drugs come in a variety of forms and are often disguised as everyday items such as chocolates, cookies, beverages, and e-cigarettes, which makes them highly concealable and deceptive, increasing the difficulty of law enforcement and misleading young people," it said.

In response, the court stressed the need to intensify efforts to combat and punish crimes involving new drugs that harm or exploit juveniles, as well as to strongly crack down on the smuggling, manufacturing, and large-scale trafficking of new drugs. Additionally, it mandated that courts at all levels strictly punish criminal activities that lead to narcotics and psychotropic substances entering illegal channels, thereby protecting the public from the harms of drug abuse.

"At the same time, it's also essential to ensure that patients' legitimate medication needs are met and that cases are accurately characterized and penalties are appropriately assigned," it added.