Another important role of the AI system, which was put into use in September, is that it allows staff members to understand residents' level of addiction, said Zhang Keshuai from the administration's education department.

"In the past, most sufferers said 'no' when asked whether they wanted narcotics, which was not an honest answer, obviously, and it made it hard for staff members to provide well-targeted treatment solutions," she said.

Vocational training and job counseling are other ways to help residents boost their confidence and avoid submerging into a whirlpool of drug abuse again, the administration said.

Nearly 3,300 residents of rehab centers have received vocational training in vehicle maintenance or pastry making since 2014, with nearly 97 percent obtaining vocational qualification certificates.