Back to TopBasic objective: To implement comprehensive measures for ending the third period of stimulant drug abuse in Japan as soon as possible and to make a positive contribution to solving the global problem of drug abuse
In May 1998, the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse formulated the "Five-Year Drug Abuse Prevention Strategy" (hereinafter called the "Previous Five-Year Strategy") to end the third period of stimulant drug abuse in the postwar period as soon as possible. The basic objective of the Previous Five-Year Strategy was to promote domestic measures to prevent drug abuse and international cooperation to both shut off the supply and reduce demand. In the Previous Five-Year Strategy, the Headquarters established four objectives "measures for young people," "measures against illicit trafficking," "measures to interdict drugs at the border/international cooperation" and "measures to prevent relapsing into drug abuse" to give shape to the basic objective. The Headquarters has stated that related ministries and agencies shall augment these measures in cooperation under a comprehensive strategy, and has indicated the current status, problems and measures with respect to each objective.
During the period from 1998, when the Previous Five-Year Strategy was formulated, to today, the Headquarters has taken new measures such as the provision of guidance on drug abuse prevention at elementary schools based on the new curriculum and the establishment of the Law for Punishment of Organized Crimes, Control of Crime Proceeds and Other Matters, the Law Concerning Interception of Communications for the Purpose of Criminal Investigation and other related laws and ordinances. The Headquarters has also taken various measures, including the improvement of drug abuse prevention education at lower and upper secondary schools, the active utilization of the Law Concerning Special Provisions for the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law, etc. and Other Matters for the Prevention of Activities Encouraging Illicit Conducts and Other Activities Involving Controlled Substances through International Cooperation, the effective implementation of controlled delivery, the promotion of cooperation and information exchange with related domestic and foreign organizations, support for the treatment and rehabilitation into society of drug dependents/addicts. In addition, as for international cooperation, the Headquarters has demonstrated its initiative in the international community through financial and technical cooperation and the holding of international conferences.
As for the expansion of drug abuse especially by young people, which is one of the important problems today, the awareness of drugs among students appears to have generally improved due to various measures that were based on these strategies. In addition, the number of juveniles arrested for stimulant drug-related offenses has been on the decrease ever since the strategy was formulated, thus indicating that a certain brake has been applied. However, the number of young people, especially lower and upper secondary school students, arrested for stimulant drug-related offenses remains at a high level. Moreover, the social environment, including the availability of drugs, has not improved, and the circumstances are still severe.
Against illicit drug trafficking organizations, related government organizations and others delivered a blow from the personnel and financial aspects to organized crime groups (Boryoku-dan) and illicit drug trafficking organizations made up of foreigners, such as Iranians, through enforcement of cooperative control. However, such organizations remain key players, and the methods of illicit trafficking have become increasingly sophisticated and latent.
In the last five years, the amount of stimulant drugs confiscated was over three times the amount confiscated in the five years before that period. However, since the smuggling routes for stimulant drugs have not been eradicated, it is estimated that a considerable amount of stimulant drugs is still being brought into Japan. Furthermore, the amount of confiscated designer drugs in tablet form, such as marijuana and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy), has been rapidly increasing in recent years, fueling a concern that the abuse of these drugs has become increasingly serious.
In terms of the international situation, although the poppy growing area has been decreasing in Myanmar and Laos, the illegal trafficking of stimulant drugs has been increasing in the neighboring countries of the "Golden Triangle" (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, China, Cambodia, and Vietnam), showing a continuation of the serious situation of drug abuse throughout the world.
In light of these conditions, there is no other choice but to recognize that the third period of stimulant drug abuse in Japan is continuing at present. The Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse thus formulates herein the New Five-Year Drug Abuse Prevention Strategy (hereinafter called the "New Five-Year Strategy") for the purpose of ending the third period of stimulant drug abuse in Japan as soon as possible, and will continue to take comprehensive measures. The Headquarters will also make a positive contribution to solving the global problem of drug abuse.
In formulating the New Five-Year Strategy, the Headquarters aims to solve the problems left behind in the Previous Five-Year Strategy, and accurately incorporates the recent changes in situation and the results of follow-up of the Previous Five-Year Strategy with a special attention given to the following viewpoints.
Drug abuse not only frays the minds and bodies of drug users and makes it impossible for them to live normal lives but may also lead to their deaths. By all means, young people with a future must be prevented from falling into such a tragic situation. At the same time, young people do not necessarily have sufficient knowledge about drugs. According to a survey (*), about 80% of those who have used stimulant drugs first did so between the ages of 15 and 29 years. Therefore, the eradication of drug abuse by young people is an urgent issue.
In this regard, since past measures for students are recognized as having a certain effect, they will continue to be promoted. Measures for young people other than students will also be improved.
Moreover, support for the rehabilitation of drug dependents/addicts into society will be further thought out and enhanced. Support for their families will also be strengthened since drug abuse afflicts not only drug dependents/addicts but also their families, and it destroys families in every way, including domestic violence.
(*) Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Survey on Actual Conditions of Drug-Related Mental Diseases at Psychiatric Medical Institutions Nationwide" (FY 2002)
The environment surrounding drugs, including the availability of drugs, is still severe, and the methods of illicit trafficking have become more sophisticated and latent. Therefore, multifaceted measures will be taken against drug-related criminal organizations, which are the drug suppliers, and strict control will be enforced over end-users. In addition, we will respond appropriately to changes in the times and society, such as the full-scale diffusion of cellular phones and the Internet; and appropriate measures will be taken according to the diversifying drugs, including MDMA and other designer drugs in tablet form, marijuana and " uncontrolled newly-abused drugs."
Almost all drugs abused in Japan are considered to be smuggled in from abroad. Looking at the amount of stimulant drugs confiscated at the border between 1998 and 2002 by source country/area, China (including Hong Kong and Macau) accounts for 51% of the whole amount while North Korea accounts for 35%.
In smuggling through these two major routes, drugs are often transported by sea through trade on the sea or in containerized cargoes. Such cases are characterized by the large amount of drugs brought in per case.
In addition, since Japan has a coastline with a total length of 34,000 km, there is a high risk of trade on the sea and smuggling that targets local ports, etc. Moreover, with the development of means of communication, such as the diffusion of GPS and cellular phones, it has become more difficult to uncover smuggling in recent years. Therefore, further strict measures will be taken against drug smuggling by sea through routes from China, North Korea and other countries.
The problem of drug abuse is still a serious threat to sound social life as mentioned above. In order to solve this problem as early as possible, it is necessary to develop measures more effectively and efficiently than ever by setting objective indices that correspond to each objective and constantly reviewing and improving policies with the use of the indices.
In addition, although related ministries and agencies together have made efforts at the initiative of the Headquarters, the close cooperation among related ministries and agencies is extremely important in implementing measures to prevent drug abuse. For this purpose, it is important to establish common objectives to be achieved and set objective indices for these objectives. It is also important that related ministries and agencies always share recognition.
Efforts have been made to foster the idea of eradicating drugs among the people through publicity and educational activities since public understanding and cooperation are essential for solving the problem of drug abuse. However, since drug abuse is conducted latently, it is difficult for many people to realize the actual abuse conditions. The New Five-Year Strategy must make clear the actual abuse conditions in the easiest possible form for people to understand.
Due to these conditions, the New Five-Year Strategy shall set as many objective indices as possible that indicate the current status of drug abuse concerning each objective and the public awareness of drug abuse to allow the relevant ministries and agencies to share their recognition. The strategy shall be developed more effectively through analysis of the trends of these indices every fiscal year.
(Index) Number of Arrests and Persons Arrested for Stimulant Drug-Related Offenses| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of arrests | 27,152 | 22,753 | 24,419 | 26,227 | 25,060 | 23,474 |
| No. of arrested persons | 19,937 | 17,084 | 18,491 | 19,156 | 18,110 | 16,964 |
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,601 | 1,079 | 1,003 | 1,148 | 954 | 749 | |
| Lower secondary school students | 43 | 39 | 24 | 54 | 45 | 44 | |
| Upper secondary school students | 219 | 103 | 81 | 105 | 83 | 66 | |
| 1998 | 2000 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methamphetamine | 0.51 | 0.39 | 0.44 |
| Marijuana | 0.68 | 0.44 | 0.52 |
| Any one of them | 0.8 | 0.57 | 0.65 |
| Rate of persons who have used | Rate of persons who have been tempted | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | |
| Methamphetamine | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| Marijuana | 0.6 | 1 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.1 |
| Heroin | * | * | * | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Cocaine | * | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| LSD | - | 0.1 | 0.1 | - | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Any one of them | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 2 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes | 252 | 180 | 172 | 177 | 153 | 126 | |
| Criminal offenses | 206 | 156 | 152 | 150 | 130 | 95 | |
| Special law offenses | 46 | 24 | 20 | 27 | 23 | 31 | |
| Accidents | 85 | 50 | 71 | 103 | 68 | 56 | |
| Deaths due to abuse | 35 | 18 | 29 | 44 | 26 | 17 | |
| Suicides/self-mutilations | 18 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 8 | 13 | |
| Traffic accidents | 32 | 22 | 30 | 35 | 34 | 26 | |
| Boys | Students in 6th grade of elementary school | Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school | Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school | Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | |
| Should never use or be allowed to use drugs | 89.5 | 89.2 | 77.9 | 82.5 | 68.6 | 74.5 | 78.8 | 82.2 |
| Do not mind trying once since single use does not harm mind and body | 1.7 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 1.2 |
| Individuals are free to use drugs since the use does not affect others. | 3.6 | 4.1 | 11 | 9.2 | 15.7 | 13 | 9.9 | 8.6 |
| Other | 4.5 | 4.2 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 9.5 | 10.6 | 6.9 | 7.1 |
| Girls | Students in 6th grade of elementary school | Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school | Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school | Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | 1997 | 2000 | |
| Should never use or be allowed to use drugs | 92.4 | 91.9 | 85 | 85.9 | 81.4 | 87.2 | 86 | 87.4 |
| Do not mind trying once since single use does not harm mind and body | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 2 | 0.8 |
| Individuals are free to use drugs since the use does not affect others | 2.5 | 3.4 | 6.8 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 7 | 6 | 6.3 |
| Other | 3.6 | 3 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 6 | 4.8 | 5 | 4.9 |
| Boys | Girls | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2000 | 2002 | 1998 | 2000 | 2002 | |
| Easily available | 8.9 | 8.9 | 10.2 | 6.8 | 7.8 | 9.7 |
| Manage to obtain with slight difficulties | 15.1 | 15.5 | 14.8 | 15.8 | 17.7 | 18 |
| Almost impossible | 22.3 | 21.8 | 19.9 | 21 | 20.5 | 19.3 |
| Absolutely impossible | 50.8 | 51.8 | 53.1 | 53.9 | 51.9 | 50.9 |
| No answer | 2.8 | 2 | 2 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Methamphetamine | Marijuana | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2001 | 1999 | 2001 | |
| Easily available | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 3.3 |
| Manage to obtain with slight difficulties | 9.8 | 8.8 | 10.1 | 9.1 |
| Almost impossible | 24.2 | 25.1 | 24.7 | 25.5 |
| Absolutely impossible | 55.4 | 55.7 | 53.9 | 54.8 |
| I am not familiar with the term stimulant. | 1.8 | - | 2.9 | - |
| No answer | 5.9 | 7.1 | 6 | 7.2 |
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of arrested persons | 19,937 | 17,084 | 18,491 | 19,156 | 18,110 | 16,964 | |
| Persons connected to organized crime groups | 7,858 | 7,249 | 7,963 | 7,755 | 7,342 | 6,777 | |
| Ratio | 39.4 | 42.4 | 43.1 | 40.5 | 40.5 | 39.9 | |
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of arrested foreigners visiting Japan | 888 | 907 | 832 | 737 | 903 | 925 | |
| Iranians | 331 | 307 | 228 | 181 | 231 | 286 | |
| Composition ratio (%) | 37.3 | 33.8 | 27.4 | 24.6 | 25.6 | 30.9 | |
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stimulant drugs | 172.9 | 549.7 | 1,994.50 | 1,030.50 | 419.2 | 442.1 |
| Marijuana (including marijuana cigarette) | 155.1 | 120.9 | 565.9 | 310.3 | 844 | 256.5 |
| Cannabis resin | 107.4 | 214.6 | 200.3 | 185.4 | 73.5 | 275.3 |
| Cocaine | 25.5 | 20.8 | 10.3 | 15.6 | 23.7 | 17 |
| Heroin | 6 | 3.9 | 2 | 7 | 4.5 | 20.9 |
| Designer drugs in tablet form such as MDMA | 8,296 | 11,419 | 23,221 | 78,006 | 112,568 | 190,280.50 |
| Opium | 31.1 | 19.8 | 7.7 | 9 | 11.4 | 5.7 |
| 1993-1997 | 1998-2002 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio(%) | Ratio(%) | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | ||||
| China (including Hong Kong/Macau) |
(Case) | 9 | 9.6 | 67 | 34.3 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 14 | 6 |
| (Amount) | 923 | 91.2 | 1,789 | 51.2 | 374 | 784 | 425 | 188 | 18 | |
| North Korea | (Case) | 1 | 1.1 | 5 | 2.6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| (Amount) | 59 | 5.8 | 1,232 | 35.3 | 167 | 665 | 249 | 0 | 151 | |
| Taiwan | (Case) | 7 | 7.4 | 6 | 3.1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| (Amount) | 30 | 3 | 12 | 0.4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| Other | (Case) | 74 | 78.7 | 111 | 56.9 | 26 | 20 | 28 | 25 | 12 |
| (Amount) | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| Unknown | (Case) | 3 | 3.2 | 6 | 3.1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| (Amount) | 0 | 0 | 453 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 201 | 14 | 237 | |
| Total | (Case) | 94 | 100 | 195 | 100 | 37 | 39 | 57 | 42 | 20 |
| (Amount) | 1,012 | 100 | 3,492 | 100 | 544 | 1,450 | 886 | 202 | 408 | |
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of arrested persons | 19,937 | 17,084 | 18,491 | 19,156 | 18,110 | 16,964 | |
| No. of recidivists | 9,328 | 8,387 | 9,274 | 9,529 | 9,250 | 9,009 | |
| Ratio (%) | 46.8 | 49.1 | 50.2 | 49.7 | 51.1 | 53.1 | |
