Closing an iron door, Wu Shunguo ushered a family of four into his "House of Charity" one Sunday morning a few weeks ago.

They came in desperate need of help from Wu, who himself was once a drug addict.

"We have to confine our daughter at home, but she keeps pleading for drugs," said the fidgeting mother of a 22-year-old.

"She is so young. I don't want to give her up, but we've almost run out of ways."

The father, with wrinkles around the eyes and grey hair, sighed while their two young sons looked dejected.

Wu told the family to bring the girl along for an interview and saw them off.

Minutes later, the telephone rang. A heart-broken mother called and asked if Wu could take her drug-abusing child into the rehabilitation programme Wu and his wife, Yu Hongfang, run at the "House of Charity."

"We want to help them keep away from heroin and regain confidence in life," said Wu.

House of "talk"

A former addict, Wu knows only too well the pains one has to go through to shake an addiction.

He was sent to a rehabilitation centre for serious drug addicts, which was run by the government of Guiyang, the capital of Southwest China's Guizhou Province, as drug addiction is against the law.

Drug laws first passed in 1990 say addicts caught for the first time should be sent to local rehabilitation centres, while those caught repeatedly are sent to local centres for compulsory rehabilitation, education and to do manual work.

Wu escaped from the centre about half way through his three-year sentence -- something that would change his life forever.

While on the run, he met Yu Hongfang, a reformed drug addict who had been clean for about four years.

With her help and companionship, Wu was able to wean himself off drugs and then he became inspired, wanting to help others.

"I was deeply touched by the help from Yu, who was once an addict, so I came up with an idea to help other addicts in the same way after I quit drugs," Wu said.

In March of 2003, Wu opened a hotline with the support of his partner and local government.

One month later, the "House of Charity" was founded in Guiyang.

The shelter is a one-of-a-kind in China founded by two people who actually experienced suffering at the hands of addiction.

It is also special given the strong government support and the efficiency of its organizational structure.

Although State law says no private entities can run drug rehabilitation centres, the shelter is able to exist as it only provides psychological care.

With further help from the local government, the couple was able to relocate their "house" in October to a deserted primary school without cost.

In the neighbourhood of the rehabilitation centre where Wu had spent almost two years, the school stands high up on a hill 30 kilometres away from the downtown.

Since its establishment, the hostel has sheltered 41 addicts.

Nine of the "graduates" take regular urine tests and have, so far, stayed clean.

Currently 15 people from three provinces, including the couple, live there.

Wu and Yu operate two 24-hour hotlines.

Made up of two double-storeyed buildings and a small cement playground, the shabby-looking hostel has no tap water and only five rooms in use.

They start the morning with a downhill trek to fetch fresh water. The day's routine also includes cooking, washing clothes and playing badminton.

From time to time, hostel guests are organized for such outdoor activities like mountaineering.

Before the end of the day, they sit together and chat.

"The hostel is a place that lends psychological assistance to abusers," said Wu.

With no medical treatment available on the premises, the only therapy they provide is to "talk."

"We share our experiences in fighting drug addiction to strengthen our belief and resolution," said Wu.

"Also, when we notice any emotional thirst for heroin, we quickly talk with the participant about the probable dangerous consequences in an effort to stop a desperate attempt."

The discussions, according to Wu, are in the nature of friends, rather than doctor-to-patient situations.

"We are equal since we were once addicted and we had similar feelings," said Wu.

Guiyang resident Xiao Lang, 27, has been at the "House of Charity" for over a month.

Eight years ago, the then high school student took his first dose of heroin out of curiosity, throwing himself and his family into an abyss of pain.

The ghastly truth dawned on his family in 1998 when Xiao Lang confessed everything before his parents and grandparents.

"I kept questioning myself why my beloved son chose that way instead of a normal life," his mother, Li, sobbed.

The worried mother tried many ways to rescue her only child, locking him at home, taking him away from the city for five months and sending him to a local rehabilitation centre twice.

"I even retired early to keep an eye on him around the clock," said Li.

Now, Li lays high hopes upon the hostel as she believes in the power of positive role models.

"They have a stronger say in this since they all experienced the same trouble and finally conquered it," she said.

"A comparatively free environment here different from rehabilitation centres will reduce his rebellious mentality, I think."

Xiao Lang paid his first visit home after staying at the hostel for four weeks.

"He looked more healthy and was well behaved in the two days at home," said the mother.

"I prefer it here to a rehabilitation centre," Xiao Lang chimed in.

"Instead of discussing where to buy the best heroin, which is a permanent topic among abusers at the centre, the people here talk about how to quit the horrible addiction and they keep giving you support."

Xiao Lang said he wants to stay in the hostel for another six months and think more about his future.

However, doubts still remain in his mother's mind.

"The reality has failed me a million times," said Li.

"Only when he himself understands the harm of heroin from the bottom of his heart, can he be freed and I can breathe an air of relief."

Zhang Yu, who has stayed for six months at the hostel, said his confidence in quelling the addiction has dramatically increased.

The 25-year-old with a decade-long drug abuse history thought about killing himself as soon as his mum, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer about a year ago, passed away.

"It was the deep guilt about my mum that prevented me, from time to time, from turning to heroin," said Zhang.

But the depression at the same time intensified his craving to escape via the use of drugs.

"Wu sensed my emotions immediately and approached me for a long talk," said Zhang.

"He encouraged me to quit the drugs for myself, in addition to quitting for my mum.

"Now I think more about getting a job and paying back everyone who has helped me. I want to create a new future."

But Wu has reservations.

"This feeling may last a month, it needs greater effort and resolution to keep going. He still has a long way to go," said Wu.

One big family

In its 21 months, the House of Charity has gradually developed a set of tight rules.

The management consists of the couple and three permanent tenants -- Gu Bin, Li Dapeng and Wei Wei, who were only initially going to be there for a few months.

"I chose to stay on not only because I appreciate the couple's kindness," said Li, who joined the organization after his release from the local detention centre in July.

A former staff member at a local television station, Li traded his job, health and family for the white powder 13 years ago.

"I found a long-time-no-see family warmth here, together with a new confidence in life," he said.

For the same reason, former policeman Gu, an addict for 12 years, and Wei, a company employee who was hooked on drugs for 11 years, got involved in running the hostel during the summer of 2004.

In a bid to make the charitable organization bigger and more efficient, a number of strict rules regarding the registration of guests and management have been introduced.

"A face-to-face interview with an addict is necessary before we decide to enroll him or her, because we need to know more about the person's physical and mental condition." Li said.

"We can only offer assistance to those who need psychological help and who are willing to kick their habit," Li said.

The hostel reserves the right to inspect the belongings of every guest and visitor to the premises, to guarantee no heroin or cash is smuggled in.

"If heroin is found in bags, we will turn it over to the local detention centre," said Li.

After checking in, an addict must remain on the premises for the first month.

Even in the months that ensue, he or she cannot leave without permission or company.

Monthly urine tests at the local drug rehabilitation centre are a must for everyone in the hostel, including the management.

"We are discussing with the authorities to include an AIDS test in the near future as well, since we understand drug abusers make up the largest portion of HIV carriers," said Li Dapeng.

And their blueprint for the House of Charity does not stop here.

"Following a suggestion from the local government, we are planning to start up some small projects that will be able to support us financially, in addition to helping all of us increase our range of skills," said Li.

The neighbouring compulsory rehab and reeducation centre has promised to give the hostel small patches of land, which may soon be used to grow crops.

The hostel also plans to develop some handicraft businesses or raise livestock and poultry.

Currently, each guest is charged 500 yuan (US$60) per month to cover food and accommodation.

"That hardly makes ends meet," said Wu.

Also, the House of Charity may extend its care and help to more addicts as well as their families.

There is an idea in the work to help school children whose parents are both drug users.

(China Daily January 4, 2005)