How Do Synthetic Drugs Affect China? Synthetic drugs are prevalent across China, affecting the country in countless ways. Drugs are created for medical uses to treat injuries or illnesses, however others are exploited due to the body’s reaction towards the drug such as narcotics. A simple definition of synthetic refers to “manmade” (Van). The primary purpose of synthetic drugs is for medical or pharmaceutical uses. This means that it is intended to aid people who are recovering from ailments.
For example, aspirin is used to help with headaches and muscle aches. Synthetic drugs’ influences are spreading across China like a wildfire affecting the lives of the citizens economically, politically, and socially. Synthetic drugs are produced to be an affordable alternative of the natural versions. However, some of these drugs are being exploited for illicit use or monetary gain (Van). Synthetic drugs can be simply defined as man-made, or not naturally occurring on Earth (Van).
Synthetic drugs are created in large factories with ingredients formulated or resembling the natural version. For example, in the food industry there are artificial products consumers buy such as fruit juices, which contain a small percentage of actual fruit juice, mainly made up of artificial fruit flavors. These juices are usually more affordable than those with only natural fruit juice. The public today is able to purchase drugs through pharmacies or drug stores.
At times, consumers are required to have a doctor’s prescription to buy certain drugs due to how addictive it could or the dangers such as side effects, but there are over the counter drugs that does not possess the dangerous amount that could affect consumers, which allows them to purchase without a prescription. Due to modern technology global purchases of synthetic drugs can be done online without a doctor’s prescription, especially in the case Chinese citizens (Sun, Yan-Ping, Shuang-Jiang , Shi-Qui, and Lin). buy.
At first it may not seem like a problem, but this can become a large-scale issue with the continued abuse of drug purchases for means other than their intended use . Synthetic drugs are meant to help cure illnesses and treat injuries, but often have unintended side effects. Any type of drug has side effects, resulting as a secondary effect from the medication. According to Xin and his colleagues, “TD]rug dealers now lure youths into trying synthetic drugs, making them believe that synthetic drugs are not addictive and will help them lose weight”(Xin). Synthetic drugs are addictive, anything in general could be addictive healthy or unhealthy.
Life choices that seem healthy that are addictive for example, are weight training and work. In addition to life choices that are unhealthy for example would be alcohol consumption, nicotine products such as cigarettes and chewing tobacco. The common side effects of excessive weight training would be muscle soreness and insatiable thirst; meaning that thirst is unable to be satisfied. This may seem abnormal or not concerning, but it is, because in the future, could result in severe injuries or quality of life could be diminished. Drugs use is often given a glamorous image due to the way it affects the user.
Drugs such as ecstasy that gives the user a euphoric sensation. This medical name for the drug is MDMA, which stands for methylenedioxyphenethylamine, the synthetic version of the drug is known as “Molly’ (Gamiz). Molly is “The labcreated chemicals mimic the effects of MDMA; most of them are central nervous system stimulants that cause euphoric highs” (Gamiz). According to Gamiz, the side effects of Molly are increased sweating, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and blood vessel constriction which could interfere with the body maintaining homeostasis (Gamiz).
Molly is described to give the user a euphoric sensation which could lead to addiction. It is most commonly consumed at clubs or electro dance music festivals, but the effects are sinister. The side effects of Molly are dangerous, but not as dangerous as unknown mixture of toxic chemicals; leaving consumers without knowledge of amount the toxic chemicals in each dosage (Gamiz). This should be provided as a warning, but every liquid, pill or powder Molly comes in, the dosage varies. Xin states that drug dealers attempt to lure teenagers to consume synthetic drugs by lying to them about these pills(? being addictive (Xin). In addition, citizens should know the dangers of synthetic drugs and the role it could have in their lives. Synthetic drugs have played a role in the lives of citizens of China. Spreading its influence from citizen to citizen, it provides euphoric highs and causes mayhem. Citizens are against each other protesting their views, whether synthetic drugs are beneficial or harmful. Drugs meant for pharmaceutical purposes are being abused due to its ingredients having addictive properties.
There are two sides, the citizens of China view synthetics drugs as not harmful nor addictive, believing they can control themselves. Opposition to these drugs are wary of the dangers and caution the government about how truly addicting they can be. This is similar to an addict claiming that he or she can quit anytime, but becoming defensive when attempts are made to cut off the drug. This usually appears in addicts that are in denial about their addiction. The Chinese who are pro-use for synthetic drugs strongly believe they can stop the using synthetic drugs if it becomes a problem.
Those using the drugs often do so for productivity in their lives, such as job performance or education (Chemical). Some synthetic drugs prescribed by doctors are highly addictive, but users who consume the drug for example, adderall, which is an amphetamine. Amphetamine is classified as a sympathomimetic amine (Elian). This category contains illicit drugs such as methamphetamine commonly known as meth and various trafficked drugs(Elian). These drugs have side effects that are life-threatening in addition to physiological and psychological damage.
The reason why these drugs are consumed is because of the reaction or the higher the user experiences while taking the drug. The addiction occurs because of the euphoric high, and users want to achieve that high once more. This is the reason why people are pressuring the Chinese government to intervene on this issue. The people who are against the synthetic drug use, have information about the rising issue (Gan). According to Gan,”The number of registered abusers of synthetic drugs, which include methamphetamine, ketamine and ecstasy, was growing at an average of 36 percent each year”(Gan).
The citizens of China are making statements about the rising numbers of drug addicts in the country. China’s demographic has a trend among drug addicts from the age and to location (Sun, Yan-Ping, ShuangJiang , Shi-Qui, and Lin). For example, adults in their mid twenties, working in cities while under the influence of the drug. From the rising numbers of drug busts of synthetic drugs in China, the people have numbers that state “China is also becoming one of the most important manufacturing bases for these drugs”(Gan).
Drug abuse has become a burden on public health; in addition, HIV cases have been linked with drug abuse (Sun, Yan-Ping, Shuang-Jiang , Shi-Qui, and Lin). People now are making a stand against synthetic drugs and the harmful effects of it on consumers. However, China’s people do not realize synthetic drugs’ role in the economy. Synthetic drugs in the economy earns income for corporations that manufacture the drugs or from workers who benefit from the drug itself. Due to a percentage of the population being addicted users of synthetic drugs, results in high demand for the drug.
The high demand of synthetic drugs leads to increased revenue for corporations in China. Many employees in the Chinese workforce have used or are currently using synthetic drugs to increase their performance at work or productivity. In addition to the high demands of synthetic drugs in China, there is a market large enough to satisfy it. China has become a primary source for ingredients in synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine (Palmer). Marketers will use this as an advantage to boost profits.
Due to a percentage of the population being using synthetic drugs, marketers or corporations will exploit them for their own greed. While corporations are watching their numbers increase, consumers are enjoying the high or suffering from the consequences. Corporations are benefiting from addicts and users from buying their synthetic drugs. Some corporation employees are users of synthetic drugs that improves job performances that generates revenue for the corporation. Synthetic drugs play a factor in China’s economy by earning revenue. The Chinese economy is large and currently ranked second behind the United States.
The Chinese market has been known to massproduce products that generate revenue, but another factor generates revenue for their economy. Due to China being a source of ingredients for major synthetic drugs, consumers from all over the world purchase the ingredients for medicinal or illicit uses. No matter the use of the drug , the citizens of china are urging for the government to step in and put a stop to the illicit use of synthetic drugs. China is a great country known for its economic, political and social values. The Chinese market is enormous and has influences from all over the world.
China itself has been on the world stage displaying their strength. The country’s drug laws are being neglected, due to lack of authority. The Chinese government has been implementing ways of containment and prevention of synthetic drugs. According to the Chinese government, the laws in place have not been effective as it should have been due to the lack of authority (Lin&Yong-an). Hence the reason why the country is filled with synthetic drug addicts or users. This could happen anywhere in the world where laws are not enforced effectively due to lack of enforcement.
The Chinese government stated “In January last year, a massive police operation netted 2. 9 tonnes of methamphetamine at a drug plant in Lufeng, Guangdong” (Gan). This is incredible for the Chinese government, especially the for the police department. With increased police operations, the synthetic drug market could weaken in China. This is important because China is a manufacturing base for the synthetic drug ketamine (Gan). If the Chinese government has laws currently in place in addition to authority would greatly diminish the influence of synthetic drug use.
The Chinese government has been implementing ways to control and regulate synthetic drugs (Lin & Yong-an). The government has high hopes that regulation will fix the absence of authority enforcing drug laws. However, corporations that produce the drugs find loopholes that causes setbacks for the Chinese government. More the less, the government will respond to ending the use of synthetic drugs. On an account of China not being able to contain the outbreak of synthetic drugs, many wonder what could contain the outbreak.
