Chinese teens are turning to mind-numbing drugs to 'run away from reality'

In a Chinese city, 14-year-old Xiaomei, an accomplished student, resorted to overdosing on cough medicine to impress an older boy. She obtained the medication online, despite it typically requiring a doctor's prescription. Initially, the drug made her dizzy, but she soon became hooked on the numb sensation, which she found to be a temporary escape from her academic pressures.

Taking the drug in large doses could cause serious side effects, such as hallucinations and impaired coordination. Xiaomei experimented with various prescription drugs recommended in online chat groups, sometimes taking as many as 10 tablets at a time. She told the BBC that she took these drugs whenever she felt pressured by studies, low exam results, or family conflicts, running away from her reality.

Similar stories from dozens of Chinese teenagers emerged on social media platforms, all describing their escape from pressure through a "pharmaceutical high." One girl reported feeling her body not belonging to her and experiencing dizziness after taking large doses of a neuropathic pain drug. Friends offered to use their parents' old prescriptions to obtain the same drug illegally.

Some shared tips on how to hallucinate using uncontrolled drugs, such as one used to treat Parkinson's tremors. Authorities acknowledged the problem and launched a crackdown on the cough suppressant Xiaomei began using, classifying it as a psychotropic drug. However, young people quickly found alternative substances. In some cases, teens used different names for drugs online to avoid detection.

China reportedly produces the majority of the world's pharmaceutical ingredients, which may explain the easy access to cheap prescription drugs for young people. However, the misuse of prescription drugs is becoming increasingly widespread among minors, with the National Narcotics Control Commission warning of a surge in such cases.