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Chinese youths turn to prescription drug misuse amid academic and social pressures

Despite falling rates of illegal drug use, Chinese authorities and experts warn that teenagers are increasingly acquiring prescription medications online to cope with intense stress.

Updated Aug 25, 2026 · 23:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Chinese teenagers are increasingly misusing online-purchased prescription medications, including cough suppressants, anti-seizure drugs, and pain relievers, to cope with academic pressures and social isolation.
  • While official 2025 statistics show a 41 percent decrease in newly identified drug users under age 35, the National Narcotics Control Commission warned that prescription drug abuse is rising among minors.
  • The government has tightened controls on specific substances and aims to establish a nationwide psychological support network by 2030, though experts point to a severe shortage of child psychiatrists.

Key facts

  • Official Chinese data for 2025 indicates a 41 percent drop in newly identified drug users under 35, but the National Narcotics Control Commission acknowledged a growing trend of prescription drug misuse among minors.[BBC News]
  • Chinese authorities have conducted nationwide crackdowns and placed stricter prescription controls on specific substances after observing youths quickly shifting to unmanaged alternative medications online.[BBC News]
  • According to official data reported by the State Council, 92 percent of primary schools and 95 percent of junior middle schools in China currently have a counsellor.[BBC News]
  • The Chinese government set a goal to establish a nationwide system for psychological support and crisis intervention by 2030.[BBC News]
  • A 2020 study in The Lancet indicated that China had only approximately 500 qualified child psychiatrists, primarily concentrated in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.[BBC News]

What remains uncertain

  • The precise scale and prevalence of prescription drug misuse among Chinese minors remain difficult to quantify due to a lack of official data specifically tracking the trend.[BBC News]

Sources