BEIJING - Guo Shengkun, head of China’s National Narcotics Control Commission, has called for a “people’s war” to stop the spread of drugs.

Guo made the remarks as he inspected drug control in Beijing communities on June 25, on the eve of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.

Guo wants all social forces -- volunteers and community workers -- to participate in drug control, education, and rehabilitation of addicts, and expects severe punishments for drug crimes.

The harm inflicted by drugs can be minimized by innovative public education, he said.

Drug taking, trafficking, planting and manufacture should all be targeted in the war on drugs, he said.

The drug control situation in China is grave and drug crimes have been spreading from border and coastal areas to the nation’s heartland. Chinese courts sentenced 39,762 criminals for drug offenses in the first five months of 2014, up 27.38 percent year on year.