China

Historical Opium Use and Policy

China has a history of drug use and regulation that dates back to at least the 15th century. The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) established laws to control the abuse of opium, which at the time was reserved for medicinal purposes. While efforts to regulate the trade and consumption of opium were continued under the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), the colonial powers of Great Britain and France established trade routes originating in British India to traffic opium into China and establish new markets. Chinese resistance to the illicit drug trade launched two Opium Wars (1839–42 and 1856–60, respectively). China's defeat in both conflicts lead to the signing of the Treaties of Nanking (1842) and Tianjin (1860) and undermined the Chinese government's ability to influence future foreign trade relations.

Following the Second Opium War, drug abuse spread throughout the Chinese population as a result of the influx of cheap opium made legally available for the first time. Opium dens appeared across China and remained ever-present through the first half of the 20th century. While members of all social classes frequented these establishments, opium dens invited additional vice into Chinese society. Ultimately, these developments severely weakened the government's ability to maintain order and meet domestic grievances and, as such, served as an impetus for the military uprising of October 10, 1911, which brought an end to dynastic rule in China.

Opium addiction and drug-related crime increased following the fall of the Qing Dynasty. In light of this growing problem, China participated in the International Opium Commission, which convened in Shanghai, China, in 1909. This conference represented one of the first international efforts to control the global drug trade, and ultimately led to the signing of the first international drug control treaty in 1912 during the International Opium Convention. Despite these efforts, continued domestic turmoil eventually led to the Chinese Civil War, beginning in April 1927 and culminating with the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 1949. By May 1950 the PRC had gained uncontested control of the mainland.

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