Jackie Chan was named Singapore’s first celebrity anti-drug
ambassador on Thursday and the kung fu movie star sought to warn the
city state’s youth to stay off illegal substances as he spoke of his
son’s drug crimes.
The Hong Kong actor’s son, Jaycee Chan, was released from a Chinese
jail in February after serving a six-month sentence on drugs charges. He
had been formally charged last year with “the crime of sheltering
others to take drugs” after testing positive for marijuana and police
saying they had found 100 grams of the drug at his Beijing home.
“I would never think it would happen to my family. The day I found
out I was so ashamed, I was so angry. How did that happen?” Chan said.
“I was very angry but it made me more determined to be against drugs.”
Chan, named an anti-drug ambassador by Beijing in 2009, sought to
deter youths who had gathered to see him at the Singapore event from
involvement with drugs.
“Don’t ever think you won’t get addicted because not only are you
hurting yourself ; your one drug addiction will hurt your family,” the
actor said.
“In order to earn money, you’ll steal, you’ll rob. In the end, you’re
hurting your country, you’re hurting your family, you’re hurting your
son; it’s a domino effect.”
The younger Chan, a 32-year-old actor and singer, apologized for his
actions upon his release. The use of ketamine and methamphetamine has
increased in China in recent years and Beijing continues to heavily
prosecute marijuana use.
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