The Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law was partially amended and came into effect in August1972so as to criminalize the act of abusing thinners and other organic solvents or selling such substances in the knowledge that they will be abused.Since then,as shown in Fig.4-2-2-1 ,most juvenile drug offenses have come under Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law violations.In2004,2,581juveniles were referred by police for Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law violations,accounting for78.9%of those referred for drug offenses.The juvenile proportion to the total persons referred for Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law violations has decreased recently,and was56.0%in2004(Source:Annual Report of Criminal Statistics on Police).

  Fig.4-2-2-2 shows the number of juveniles cleared for Stimulants Control Law violations and the juvenile proportion since1970.

Fig.4-2-2-2  Trends in the number of juveniles cleared for Stimulants Control Law violations and their proportion(1970-2004)

  The number of juveniles cleared for Cannabis Control Law violations and Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law violations has increased recently,and223juveniles were cleared for Cannabis Control Law violations(up by16.8%from the previous year)and80juveniles for Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law violations(up by105.1%(id.))in2004(Source:The Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau,Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare,The Criminal Investigation Bureau,National Police Agency,and The Guard and Rescue Department,Japan Coast Guard).Most Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law violations were for pill-type synthetic narcotic drugs like MDMA(Source:The Criminal Investigation Bureau,National Police Agency).