136 enterprises offer jobs to recovering drug addicts

The road to recovery is tough for most drug users. The typical method is through compulsory isolation. In southwest China's Guizhou province, various programs are set up to help them return to society, including employment assistance, giving them a chance at a fresh start in life.

Wang Jiagui and Liang Qiuyue married last year. Their home is simple, and they are saving money to buy more furniture and electrical equipment. They lead a life like any other couple, but it was not always so. Both were once drug addicts, Liang Qiuyue for more than ten years.

Liang Qiuyue said, "My parents passed away, and I didn't have a job. I was so idle that I got hooked on drugs. I tried to abandon the habit, but I failed. This was until I got this job. I've finally made it. Now, I feel my life is meaningful and happy."

Liang Qiuyue and her husband work in a cloth factory, with help from the local government. Workers also receive special professional training. This job gives them about 4,000 Yuan per month. And insurances like in medical care are also paid for them.

Wang Jiagui said, "This job means a lot to me. It not only supports my life, but also helps me gain self-confidence and respect from others. People do not look down upon me. I do not feel inferior any more."

To encourage a healthy lifestyle, Tai Chi classes are a daily activity in the factory. Every working day, they can have lunch in the canteen.

In Guizhou province, there are 136 enterprises which cooperate with the local government to provide job opportunities for recovering drug addicts. They earn their living there, and learn to lead a positive life. According to the provincial narcotics control office, this scheme has effectively helped recovering addicts not to relapse, and decreased the amount of drug-related criminal cases.