China's National Narcotics Control Commission has called on celebrities from the entertainment industry for self-discipline and to play a positive role in fighting against drug abuse.

The call follows the arrest of a well-known Chinese pop singer Xie Dong at his apartment on May 26 on charges of drug abuse.

Xie, 44, was found taking ecstasy and "ice" with his girlfriend when the police burst into his apartment on May 26. Xie admitted to the police that he had been addicted to drugs for two years.

Xie and his girlfriend will be detained for ten days according to the relevant regulations, said police, and then released. If they repeat the offense, they face being sent to a rehabilitation centre.

Commenting on the case, an official with the China's National Narcotics Control Commission urged celebrities to stay away from drugs due to their huge influence on society.

Xie is not the first Chinese star to be caught up in a drugs scandal.

In 1997, Luo Qi, hailed as the No.1 female rock singer in China, was admitted to a drugs rehabilitation centre for three months.

In the same year, Zhu Jie, a promising young actress who had acted as a drug addict in a film, died from a drug overdose at the age of 28.

In December last year, Taiwan police discovered that a host of the island's pop stars were regular drug takers while investigating a drug trafficking case.

"There are many instances of drug abuse in show business. Some young people, for instance, naively believe drugs will make them unique and artistic," said Liu Huan, a well-known pop singer.

"Suffering from pressure and spiritual emptiness, many entertainers resort to drugs for relief, stimulation and satisfaction. And drug dealers also target pop stars because they have no difficulty in finding the money to buy the drugs," Liu said.

Shi Jianchun, vice-director with Beijing Anti-Drug Education Base, said that stars involved in drug abuse would exert a negative impact on society since many teenagers follow the examples set by their icons.

Xie's case not only serves as a reminder for celebrities to keep away from drugs, but also shows the government's different approach and determination to fight drug abuse, according to Shi.

"In the past, we were reluctant to expose drug-abuse cases involving celebrities to the public. But now we will make it more transparent as media power plays a significant role in forcing stars to think about their behavior," said Shi.

Many years after her drug scandal, rock singer Luo Qi said: "Now I can admit to the public that I was wrong at the time. I'm not afraid of being held up as a negative example.

"I'd like to become an anti-drugs ambassador and educate the public about the harm caused by narcotic abuse," Luo said.

The official with the National Narcotics Control Commission said it had invited seven leading figures in show business to be their anti-drug ambassadors to help the narcotics control efforts.

Police data showed that the number of drug takers in China grew 35 percent since 2000 to hit 1.16 million in early 2005.

The number dropped to 720,400 in August of 2006 as a result of compulsory rehabilitation measures and strict checks on chemicals and narcotics, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Source: Xinhua