China's anti-drug authorities now use mobile phones as a new front in the battle against narcotic abuse - simply by sending a warning message to millions of phone users.

The office of the National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC) Thursday sent out a text-picture message to 1.2 million subscribers of Xinhua mobile paper, a Short Message Service (SMS) provided by Xinhua News Agency's online department.

The message contained knowledge about narcotics, the danger of drug abuse and ways to avoid the abuse. The service came on the annual International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which falls on Friday.

The NNCC has collaborated with print, broadcasting and online media in China to carry out anti-drug campaigns before. "But for mobile phone users, this is the first time," said Gu Yingli, an official with the NNCC office.

She said the SMS service can reach more young people and migrants than traditional media, which will take the anti-drug education further.

"Many young and migrant people have fallen a victim to drug abuse, particularly as new-type narcotics such as methamphetamine and ketamine become popular among them," she said.

The abuse of methamphetamine and ketamine, commonly known as "Ice" and "K powder," made anti-drug situations more complicated and difficult because many people do not know the danger, and even do not think them as drugs.

"Experts even fear that these drugs will replace heroin as major narcotics in China in coming years," she said.

The SMS gave an array of examples to reveal how young people were lured to try "Ice" or "K powder" at discos and karaoke lounges, and the devastating results. Contact information of police authorities were also given for the public to report crimes of drug trafficking and abuse.

Gu said the NNCC had also worked with nine major Chinese websites this month to launch anti-drug education. "The response from the public has been very positive and overwhelming," she said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2009)