Asia-Pacific Addiction Research Institute (APARI) was established as an incorporated non-profit organization on February 2, 2000. Their main philosophy is “providing addiction recovery support in the truest sense.” Japan is described as being 20 years behind with its anti-drug measures when compared to Western countries. Despite the delay in measures, drug problems in Japan have been spreading with terrifying speed, and Japan is likely to catch up with Western countries.

Symbolizing this trend, not only problems related to paint thinner, stimulants and cannabis, but also new problems related to law-evading drugs, non-prescription/prescription drugs including psychotropic drugs, pain relievers and sleeping pills have been spreading. Moreover, doors to addiction, such as gambling, eating disorders or PTSD, seem to be increasingly closer to them. Therefore, they would like to review the actual practice of recovery support in communities and reimplement the support.

DARC, which collaborates with APARI, started in 1985. Since then, its rehabilitation style, whereby persons with drug addiction live together, share their thoughts, and get back to a normal daily rhythm, has been spreading across the country. However, repeat offenders of drug-related crimes are still required to be rehabilitated in a prison, and treatments and recovery are ignored during imprisonment. That is exactly why they need not to place drug addicts in a prison, but to facilitate the collaboration between the judiciary and welfare, and psycho-education and psychiatric care, and lead them to recover in the community at the earliest point. APARI has been leading this effort in Japan, staying one step ahead.