Students look at drugs displayed at a primary school in Handan, Hebei province, on Friday. The event, which was held by local police, aimed to help teach the children about the dangers of illegal substances.[Photo by Hao Qunying / For China Daily] Artificially made active ingredient of marijuana one of dozens in tests China may ban a deadly synthetic component of marijuana, along with more than two dozen other potent synthetic drugs, by the end of the year, according to a police official. Last week, the Ministry of Public Security announced the ban of four synthetic drugs, noting the concurrence of the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the China Food and Drug Administration. Now the evaluation has expanded. The additional drugs being evaluated - known collectively as novel psychoactive substances, or NPS - include 4-CEC, a psychoactive stimulant related to methamphetamine, but potentially even more dangerous, like the drug PMMA, which was banned last week, said Yu Haibin, an official at the ministry's narcotics control bureau. He said the drugs are likely to be listed as controlled substances by Chinese authorities before the end of the year after experts complete an in-depth assessment. Hua Zhendong, a doctor of analytical chemistry at the National Narcotics Laboratory, said about a dozen professional experts, including government officials, anesthesiologists, forensic scientists and university professors, are conducting a three - to six-month research project on the substances. The 30 NPS have been frequently ordered online and exported abroad, while some foreign media outlets have reported deaths caused by the use of such substances, Hua said. Yu said that once the assessment is complete, the results will be submitted to the ministry, the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the China Food and Drug Administration for review, with the three central agencies making a joint decision on whether to ban the drugs. Deng Ming, deputy director of the bureau, said that NPS have similar or more potent affects than traditional drugs. In recent years, more than 100 deaths have been reported in Western countries due to NPS abuse. Figures from the ministry show that since October 2015, police have arrested 10 suspects involved in NPS production or trafficking, and destroyed eight operations found to be manufacturing the drugs. Meanwhile, the police have confiscated 1,753 kilograms of NPS and 10 tons of raw materials used for producing them, according to the ministry. Foreign parties typically conduct business with Chinese accomplices online, including ordering drugs, purchasing materials and transferring money, Yu said. On June 19, Chinese authorities announced the banning of four synthetic drugs: U-47700, sometimes called U-4 or Pink, which more than seven times more potent than morphine, and was linked to the death of musician Prince; MT-45, which has a similar effect to morphine, and is associated with hearing loss and unconsciousness; PMMA, which is a psychedelic stimulant related to methamphetamine, but is potentially more dangerous; and 4,4'-DMAR, which is known by its street name Serotoni. The bans will take effect on Saturday. According to the ministry, 138 kinds of NPS, including 23 kinds of fentanyls, have been listed as controlled substances in China, while nine categories of NPS and 789 subcategories have been discovered worldwide. Deng said that Chinese authorities will deepen law enforcement cooperation with other countries to curb NPS-related crimes. Justin Schoeman, country attache for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in Beijing, said measures by Chinese authorities to ban NPS in China help save lives in the US. Among the 30 drugs being tested are AMB-FUBINACA (the synthetic form of a component of marijuana), and 5F-ADB - also known as 5F-MDMB-PINACA, an active ingredient in synthetic cannibis (marijuana) products - and 4-CEC, another psychoactive substance. tyvek event wristbandscheap silicone wristbandssilicone fidget spinnercustom made rubber braceletsrubber wristbands custom cheap
Craig Allen Ruhstorfer donates blood at the Pingdu blood donation station in Shandong province.[Provided to China Daily] At the end of last month, Craig Allen Ruhstorfer offered another 400 milliliters of blood, unpaid, to a donation service station in Pingdu, a county-level city in Shandong province. The 59-year-old teacher and donor, born in the United States, is also known by his Chinese name Liu Tianxin, and has become a familiar face to the staff at the blood donation station. He has been offering blood donations at our station since 2007 and he has been awarded three blood donation certificates, said Dong Yongguang, a staff member at the Pingdu donation station. Ruhstorfer has been donating blood, twice a year, since 2003 when he worked as an English teacher in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao. To date, he has donated 28 times or 11,200 ml of blood. Not only is he an unpaid donor, but Ruhstorfer also provides funding for 22 Chinese children. This started after he met a child in 2003 whose family was in difficulties. He gave money for the child to go to school, and his good deed led to more contributions to help other children. The eldest of the beneficiaries is now 25 and he invited Ruhstorfer to his wedding as a family member. The youngest one is 9 and still in elementary school in Henan province. One of my 'daughters' has entered her junior year and one of my 'sons' has been admitted to the well-known Pingdu No 1 Senior High School this year, said Ruhstorfer cheerfully. And I hope all my children can attend universities and live happy lives. He worked as a nurse in Michigan before coming to China to become a teacher. Comfortably fluent in Chinese, he has no barriers in daily communication. He teaches at Shangqiu Normal University, based in Henan province, and often takes the train to visit his students in Qingdao during the vacation, donating blood at the same time. Often, he also takes students to donate. Ruhstorfer earns about 7,000 yuan ($1,035) every month, not enough to cover the school fees for his children. I decide to sponsor their tuition or room and board according to the income of their families, Ruhstorfer said. Ruhstorfer often takes his children to our service station so he can buy them gifts after donations, said Jiao Haiyan, a staff member at the Pingdu station. He lives frugally. I don't smoke or drink, or eat at expensive restaurants. I take the slow train because the tickets are cheaper. And this shirt I have worn for years and I will be wearing it as long as possible. He received Golden Awards for blood donation in 2014 and 2015. As a foreigner who can insist on donating blood without payment, Ruhstorfer fully reflects a love without borders and is really admirable, Dong Yongguang said.
