Chinese Youths Use Medication to Escape Exam Pressure
Due to extreme academic pressure and family expectations in China, young people are turning to prescription drugs to reduce anxiety and escape reality.
Facing intense exam pressure and high family expectations, Chinese youths are excessively consuming easily accessible prescription drugs to cope with anxiety and escape reality.
Exam Pressure and Prescription Drug Use
Xiaomei, a high-achieving 14-year-old student living in China, overdosed on cough medicine purchased online in order to alleviate mounting school stress and family quarrels. Over the course of two years, she consumed large quantities of many over-the-counter and prescription drugs, including painkillers and epilepsy medication.
Similar Stories Shared on Social Media
The BBC heard similar stories from dozens of Chinese youths looking for drugs in chat rooms on various social media platforms to alleviate extreme stress. This situation reveals the scale of the social and mental crisis experienced by young people.
Education System and Family Pressure
China's highly competitive education system, elimination-focused elite classes, and isolated school environments increase anxiety among youths. Parents who have made heavy investments in their single child following the historic one-child policy also compound this pressure.
Legal Regulations and New Measures
While authorities state there is a decline in traditional drug users under the age of 35, they acknowledge that the misuse of prescription drugs is increasing among minors. Two years ago, the government launched a nationwide crackdown on certain cough syrups and introduced strict controls on alternative medications in April.
Mental Health Crisis and Shortage of Psychiatrists
Experts emphasize that blocking online sales is not a solution on its own and that the underlying mental health crisis must be addressed. While millions of people struggle with depression in China, the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists remains one of the biggest challenges.
Recovery Process and Warnings
Following a serious overdose that required hospital treatment, Xiaomei's family adopted a more supportive approach involving open communication. Lu Jingchan, 22, who overcame years of drug addiction, warns other youths on social media against the dangers of numbing themselves with drugs.