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China

Chinese officials let children ‘experience drugs’ through VR

Virtual-reality headsets beaming psychedelic images give youngsters an unpleasant, but harmless, experience of taking narcotics

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A young girl experiences a virtual reality simulation of the unpleasant side effects of taking drugs. Photo: Handout
Tracy Hu

Customs officials in southern China have adopted virtual reality technology in their efforts to educate children about the dangers of taking drugs, state media reported.

Youngsters in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, were invited to take part in a range of activities during an event held to mark the United Nations’ International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which fell on Monday, Xinhua reported.

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One of the main attractions was a stall where children were able to experience the unpleasant side effects of taking drugs by donning a virtual reality (VR) headset.

Video footage from the event shared by Guangdong Television shows a young girl asking for the machine to be switched off to escape the dizzying images being beamed into her brain.

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“I feel that my arms are numb, can [the VR video] be stopped?” she asks.

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