Chinese lawmakers adopted the country's first-ever anti-drug law in Beijing on Saturday in a bid to curb drug-related crimes and reduce the growing number of users, especially under-aged addicts.

The bill says the owners and managers of discos, bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues are responsible to report drug takers to the police or will be punished otherwise.

The police are authorized, if necessary, to search people and their luggage for illegal drugs at key public places, such as train stations, long-distance bus stations and border crossings.

The number of drug takers in China grew 35 percent over a five-year period to 1.16 million in early 2005, according to police data. It is estimated that the country has more than 700,000 heroin addicts, of which 69 percent are under 35.

According to the law, drug addicts might be allowed to recover in their communities in a limited period of three years, rather th...

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