Reporters Chen Weizhou and Zhang Hongyi / Special Report
2026-07-24 08:00:00
Zero tolerance for drug driving! On June 18th of this year (2026), in response to the rampant drug driving, the Executive Yuan amended the law to classify etomidate as a Schedule I controlled substance, with the most severe penalty of death for transportation and trafficking. While a strong crackdown on drugs is crucial, drug rehabilitation is equally important. NOWNEWS reviews Taiwan’s drug rehabilitation system and finds that deficiencies remain.
On May 24th of this year (2026), a driver surnamed Wang in New Taipei City was driving under the influence of drugs in broad daylight on Jingping Road in Zhonghe District. Due to mental instability, Wang first crashed into a median strip and then veered into a motorcycle waiting area, hitting two sisters surnamed Lin, resulting in one death and one serious injury. Wang tested positive for drugs in a rapid drug test. Police found etomidate cartridges in Wang’s car. After questioning, prosecutors detained him on charges of negligent homicide. Similar drug-impaired driving incidents are reported almost daily on television news. According to the National Police Agency, from January to May 2026, 6,730 cases of drug-impaired driving were transferred for prosecution, a 2.8-fold increase compared to 2,399 cases in the same period last year, and a staggering 156-fold increase compared to 43 cases in 2021.
Among these, the seizure of etomidate has risen rapidly. The National Police Agency statistics show that from August 2024 to April 2026, 1,256 drug manufacturing plants were raided, 21,000 drug offenders were apprehended, and approximately 849.5 kilograms of etomidate e-liquid powder were seized, enough to make 8.5 million “zombie” e-liquid cartridges. This has forced the Executive Yuan to amend the law, classifying etomidate from a Class III drug to a Class I drug within just three years, with the maximum penalty for trafficking and manufacturing being the death penalty. At the same time, penalties for drug-impaired driving have been increased, such as license revocation.
The government has made significant reforms to drug enforcement laws, but the 28-year-old drug rehabilitation system has had limited effectiveness. NOWNEWS interviewed editors from the Ministry of Justice, legal scholars, and ex-convicts who graduated from rehabilitation centers to share their experiences and analyze how to improve the situation.
Addict’s Confession: 20 Years to Overcome Addiction
Imagine how long it takes for a drug addict to get back on the right track? Ex-convict Lin Ruiqi spent 20 years overcoming his addiction and is now a supervisor in long-term care industry services, having worked there for 10 years. Lin Ruiqi recounted his journey to recovery to NOWNEWS.
An invitation to play mahjong, curiosity led him astray. At 22, Lin Ruiqi started his own construction materials business. While playing cards with friends, he accidentally became addicted to drugs, leading to repeated in-and-out prison sentences, including 12 years incarcerated. For him, observational rehabilitation and forced treatment seemed to offer limited help. Ultimately, it was the companionship of a religious group and the grief of losing loved ones that finally spurred his determination to quit drugs. Lin Ruiqi is frequently invited back to the rehabilitation center to share her own story, hoping to inspire her fellow inmates.
Another ex-convict, Li Dunhao, at the age of 28, was misled by a man who encouraged him to invest in a hotel, promising a share of the profits. He borrowed a million NT dollars from his family, only to lose it all. He received no share of the hotel’s revenue. Under immense financial and social pressure, he embarked on a path of no return—drug addiction.
He last left the rehabilitation center in 2023. Encouraged by his parents, he underwent treatment at a drug rehabilitation village and finally escaped the “sea of drugs.” He currently works as an airport shuttle driver. Li Dunhao recalled that during classes at the rehabilitation center, everyone just zoned out and wasted time. The only helpful thing was the meetings with the psychologist. After letting down his guard, he felt cared for and accepted, and only then did he dare to confide in them.
Over 90% of Drug Addicts Relapse: Research Shows Drug Rehabilitation is a “High-Investment, Low-Effectiveness” Process
The two cases above highlight the high relapse rate among drug addicts and the limited effectiveness of the drug rehabilitation system. According to data from the Ministry of Justice in 2020, among those convicted of using Class I and II drugs in Taiwan from 2016 to 2020, over 95% and 83% had prior drug-related convictions, respectively, indicating a high recidivism rate. A 2013 study, “Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation,” pointed out that drug rehabilitation is a high-investment, low-efficiency industry, with low success rates for single-treatment methods. It recommended at the time that social resources should be extended to the families of drug addicts as early as possible to provide relevant support.
In an interview with NOWNEWS, Kuo Shih-wei, an editor at the Ministry of Justice’s Correctional Agency, pointed out that Taiwan established “observational rehabilitation” and “compulsory rehabilitation” in 1998, placing drug users in prisons to isolate them from physical and psychological dependence on drugs. Until 2017, the government promoted the “New Generation Anti-Drug Strategy Action Plan,” treating drug users as “patients.” After deferred prosecution by prosecutors, they were diverted to “community treatment,” such as hospital rehabilitation clinics or local drug prevention centers (Drug Prevention Centers) for treatment.
Data shows that the deferred prosecution and diversion of drug addicts has indeed led to a significant decrease in prison numbers. Guo Shiwei presented data indicating that from 2016 to the end of 2025, the number of inmates convicted of “drug use” in prisons will decrease from 28,000 to 15,000. However, rehabilitation courses and resources have long been limited by a shortage of counseling personnel, making rehabilitation through correctional institutions alone ineffective.
NOWNEWS reports from Xindian Rehabilitation Center: Inmates copying the Heart Sutra during class
Whether it’s mandatory rehabilitation or treatment—these “walled” correctional systems—the dilemma lies in the fact that inmates are involuntarily admitted, naturally reducing the effectiveness of government-arranged courses. NOWNEWS provided on-site coverage of a class at the Xindian Rehabilitation Center. On stage, the teacher lectured attentively, while students copied the Heart Sutra or rested on their desks. The center’s interior design was remarkably “humane,” replacing cold, metallic tables and chairs with warm-toned sofas, hoping to make it easier for students to lower their guard when meeting with psychologists or social workers.
Over the past decade, Taiwan’s drug rehabilitation system has shifted its focus to resources “outside the walls.” The supervisory body for drug prevention centers was moved from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the budget was significantly increased from over 80 million to 220 million, with a projected budget of 460 million by 2026. Through the establishment of community resources, addicts can access drug prevention centers and other relevant channels while still in the center, and can immediately connect with community support upon release, achieving Japan’s “throughout protection” system—meaning addicts are continuously monitored until they successfully reintegrate into society.
Drawing Lessons from Japan’s “Through-the-Way Protection” System, the Correctional Agency Offers Two Major Suggestions
Wang Po-Chi, Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Justice at Ming Chuan University, analyzed that the high recidivism rate of drug rehabilitation in Taiwan’s prisons, reaching 90%, is due to the fact that inmates, after release, inevitably face societal stigma, struggle to find employment, and lack family support. This “internal and external crisis” leads to renewed drug use. Therefore, he pointed out that after release, drug prevention centers should promptly reach out to inmates, especially providing support to their families, which is often crucial for successful rehabilitation.
To further improve Taiwan’s in-prison drug rehabilitation system, Kuo Shih-wei, editor at the Ministry of Justice’s Correctional Agency, offered two major suggestions. First, increase manpower; this year (2026), they have secured 100 psychological social workers from the Executive Yuan. Second, regarding public awareness campaigns against the stigma associated with drug addicts, they suggest emulating Singapore’s or Thailand’s “Yellow Ribbon Project,” systematically encouraging the reintegration of rehabilitated individuals into society.
Professor Wang Po-Chi was interviewed by Today’s News: The Road to Drug Rehabilitation Part 1 / Drug-impaired driving has increased 156 times in 5 years; a comprehensive review of the 28-year drug rehabilitation system.