Summary of Key Points
This news article focuses on the issue of drug abuse among teenagers and young adults. Some individuals seek hallucinations, euphoria, or a way to escape from the pain of reality by taking excessive doses of medications originally prescribed for therapeutic purposes, such as dextromethorphan (for coughs) and pregabalin (for nerve pain). As countries tighten regulations on these drugs—such as banning their online sale or classifying them as controlled substances—consumers turn to other less strictly regulated substances, sometimes purchasing them from the black market. Underlying these behaviors are complex issues like family discord, mental health disorders, and social exclusion. This group is particularly hidden, using coded language and encrypted communities, making addiction recovery extremely challenging.
1. Drugs Abused by Young People: Changing Their Approaches with Policy Changes
Many of the drugs used by young people are intended for medical treatment, but excessive use can lead to unintended effects. For example, taking too much dextromethorphan can cause hallucinations, while high doses of pregabalin can reduce pain perception. As regulations have tightened:
- Dextromethorphan: It has moved from being an over-the-counter drug to a prescription-only medication, with its online sale subsequently banned, and it is now classified as a “Class II controlled substance,” requiring a doctor’s prescription.
- Pregabalin: Its online sale was prohibited in April 2026. Although it is not yet listed as a controlled substance, there have been numerous cases of abuse; for instance, a 14-year-old girl ended up in the ICU after taking 16 pills.
As policies tighten, young people seek alternative drugs. For example, when dextromethorphan becomes more restricted, they switch to pregabalin, and when pregabalin is regulated, they turn to other prescription medications for nerve pain. Drug dealers take advantage of these gaps in the system. Pregabalin, which was not expensive before, can now sell for up to 85 yuan per box on the black market, and some people forge prescriptions to sell the drug, although these accounts are often shut down quickly.
2. Why Do They Choose This Path?
The motivation behind this behavior is often a combination of family issues and psychological pain that they have no outlet for:
- Family Problems: For instance, Xiao Wei’s father becomes violent when drunk, and her mother endures it; she has grown to despise life due to the lack of support from her parents.
- Mental Health Disorders: Some individuals, like Chun Han, experience insomnia without a diagnosed depression and turn to drugs for relief. Ou Mi mentions that many in the community have mental health issues or a history of self-harm.
- Social Exclusion: Some feel excluded by mainstream society and see themselves as outsiders.
Experts suggest that this is a reflection of broader family and social problems, with children being the most vulnerable. They use drugs to temporarily alleviate their pain, essentially using self-destructive behavior as a form of self-help.
3. The Hidden Nature of This Group
The drug abuse community is highly concealed for two reasons:
- The Nature of the Drugs: Medications are perceived as legitimate treatments for illnesses, so people do not associate them with drug abuse.
- Subcultural Codes: They use coded language; for example, “corn” refers to dextromethorphan, and “O” indicates an overdose. Access to the community is strictly controlled, where they share information about drug use, trade drugs, and even post photos of self-harm.
For instance, Dr. Xing Xiaomeng encountered a case where a minor was introduced to drug abuse through a group called “Cancun Quan” (a pun on “meal coupon group”). Young people tend to trust their peers more than their parents, making it difficult for them to detect the issue.
4. Why Is Addiction So Difficult to Overcome?
Breaking an addiction is not as simple as deciding to stop; there are numerous barriers:
- Physical Challenges: Suddenly stopping the drug can cause withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, weakness, and poor mental clarity, which can be very distressing. Moreover, long-term use can lead to tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.
- Psychological Barriers: The psychological addiction is more difficult to overcome. Even with antidepressants, some still crave the drug. After experiencing a fainting episode, Xiao Wei did not truly quit using the drug.
- External Obstacles: Many feel ashamed and are too embarrassed to seek medical help; some lack the financial means for treatment, and their families do not support them. Others distrust the healthcare system, believing it cannot provide effective assistance.
Experts recommend seeking professional help from specialized institutions, but few young people take the initiative to do so. Usually, it is a family member who notices a critical situation (such as self-harm) that leads them to seek medical attention.
In Conclusion
This phenomenon is not simply a matter of young people being careless; it requires the joint effort of families, schools, and society. Parents should pay more attention to their children’s mental well-being, schools should educate about the dangers of drug abuse, and society should provide more affordable psychological support and addiction rehabilitation services. After all, these young people are not “bad kids” but individuals in need of help.