Mai Shiming works at a special farm in China's Hainan Island -- his first job since breaking his drug habit.

"I'm afraid that no company would accept me if I left this farm," says Mai, 27.

Ninety-three other workers are feeding pigs, planting orchids or vegetables in the detoxification and rehabilitation farm, earning 300 yuan (US$40) a month in addition to free board and lodging.

The farm, founded in 2004 in Sanya City by Hainan Provincial Public Security Bureau, aims to creating a transitional environment for recovered drug users before they return to society.

It is one of China's many locally-run projects to rehabilitate drug abusers.

More than 70 other people who broken their habits after compulsory narcotics detoxification treatment are working in such farms in Wenchang and Haikou cities: psychological preparation for their future.

Reformed junkies usually suffer discrimination in the job market. Even if they are free of addiction, the difficulties of day-to-day life can push them back to drugs.

"The more I feel looked down upon, the more I want to take drugs again," says a man surnamed Kang, who has failed many times to quit.

Kang's hometown in Shaanxi Province in northwest China is planning to establish a "Sunlight Community" to provide professional training and job opportunities to drug addicts in addition to detoxification and rehabilitation.

The community will cover about 6.7 hectares and will invite crop and livestock enterprises to operate there, according to the provincial public security bureau.

"Drug detoxification and rehabilitation is not a one-time effort," says Liu Xiaohong, an anti-drug officer in northwestern Gansu Province.

"We must help drug abusers to regain confidence and learn skills to restart a healthy life. A stable income is a precondition of preventing them from taking drugs again," Liu emphasized.

Liu usually visits at least ten drug addicts every day in a small community compound in the provincial capital of Lanzhou, helping them to solve daily problems.

At a drug detoxification center in the city of Dingxi, addicts can take free training courses in livestock raising, horticulture, electric welding, construction and sewing techniques.

So far, more than 10,000 of almost 19,000 urban drug users in Gansu have recovered and been employed by companies or community committees, or opened their own businesses with local government help. More than 2,600 have been granted benefits according to local social welfare standards, according to Gansu Anti-drug Committee.

However, only about 42 percent of the 46,597 drug users registered in Gansu broken their addiction for at least three years, a figure the committee claims is "successful" by international standards.

"I stayed at home after coming back from detoxification treatment two years ago. I was afraid of seeing people," says Deng Jikun, in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Now he has become a hero in Kunming, capital of Yunnan, for helping to arrest two thieves in his residential community.

Deng attributed his change to the help of the so called "behavioral correction and help station" network that covers all the residential communities in the city.

"I have psychologically quit drugs. I'm feeling good. My life is very meaningful now," said Deng, who earns 500 yuan (US$66) a month working in the residential community committee.

Police data showed that the number of drug takers in China grew 35 percent since 2000 to hit 1.16 million in early 2005.

The number dropped to 720,400 in August of 2006 as a result of compulsory rehabilitation measures and strict checks on chemicals and narcotics, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Zhou Yongkang, Minister of Public Security and director of China's National Narcotics Control Commission, has called for reinforced anti-drug efforts across the country.

He praised local governments for effectively eliminating many heroin sources and greatly reducing the number of drug takers.

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2007)