Zhou Yanping, 48, owner of a clothing manufacturing firm in Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has helped 50 people break free of drugs in the past 11 years, encouraging them with employment and a place to live. She has even bigger plans for the future.

On June 26, International Anti-drug Day, eight of the former drug addicts that Zhou had recently helped went to her home to show their gratitude.

Zhou Yanping (facing camera) and some drug addicts.

"The anti-drug day used to be the most frightening day for us to face. But with Sister Zhou's help, we recovered and are living happy lives," said Liu Yong.

Zhou met the eight Xi'an drug addicts at an anti-drug conference in October 2006.

"The eight had been taking drugs for a decade and it was very hard for them to quit. They needed encouragement not only from the local government and their relatives but from everyone of us in society," Zhou said.

To help them give up drugs, Zhou followed up with them to make sure they received their anti-drug treatments. She also helped the former drug addicts find jobs and solve their living problems.

"Every month, Sister Zhou would take us to the hospital for urinalysis to prevent us from taking drugs again. To stay in contact with us, Sister Zhou bought mobile phones for all of us," said Yang Xia, one of the eight.

All eight are now drug-free and living normal lives.

Zhou first helped a drug addict in July 1996.

She was approached in her clothing firm by Wu Shuanglin, a young man willing to work without a salary. "If I can get something to eat here, I can work without payment," he said.

Wu told Zhou that he had been imprisoned for two years for taking drugs. Now he wanted to be self-sufficient.

"Listening to him, I thought he really wanted to make a fresh start, so I decided to give him a chance to make a new life," Zhou said.

Zhou's relatives and friends tried to persuade her not to believe a drug addict who could not thoroughly give up his addiction. They warned her that he would steal money and stock from the company to buy drugs.

Zhou told the doubters, "If we do not give him a chance, Wu might return to his old ways again. If we give him a hand now, we could save his life."

With Zhou's support, Wu learned the business. Several years later, he established his own company and makes a good living.

"Though I left Zhou's firm years ago, we are still good friends. I would not have my current success if I had not met Sister Zhou," Wu said.

Zhou's latest plan will extend her ongoing support of those who have kicked the drug habit or are trying to.

"I plan to open a vehicle repair company to employ successfully rehabilitated addicts and those who are still receiving drug detoxification treatment. I hope in this way, to encourage them to give up drugs and to help them rebuild happy lives," she said.

(China Daily July 13, 2007)