China's first anti-drug radio program, Anti-Drug Pioneer, aired for the first time in Shanghai on Sunday.

The hourly program is to run weekly on Shanghai East Radio.

It is being co-sponsored by the Shanghai Media Group and Shanghai Anti-Drug Committee.

Lin Huabin,deputy director of the Shanghai Anti-Drug Committee, was invited as a guest co-anchor to join the premiere.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of Chinese celebrities have been involved in drug scandals, with the latest case being singer Xie Dong. Xie, who became an anti-drug volunteer after being detained for drug abuse one year ago, was detained on Sunday for the same reason.

The 45-year-old singer and his girlfriend were taken into custody for 10 days over the weekend after testing positive for methamphetamines.

Less than two months ago, Zhang Yuan, one of China's most popular directors, was arrested on drug charges.

China adopted its first anti-drug law in December in a bid to curb drug-related crimes and reduce the growing number of users, especially under-aged addicts. The law will take effect on June 1 2008.

It is estimated that China has more than 700,000 heroin addicts, of whom 69 percent are under 35.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 4, 2008)