OBJECTIVE： To make proposals to improve narcotics and psychotropic substances （NPS） control in China. METHODS： NPS control system of international organizations， the United States， Britain and China were compared in terms of concept， classification， regulatory basis and agency， etc. The suggestions and reference were put forward.  RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS： NPS of international organizations， the United States， Britain and China are drug types included in relevant categories， besides analeptics， precursor chemicals and other drugs are included in control catalogue by the United States and Britain. NPS are divided into Ⅰ-Ⅳ categories by international organizations， Ⅰ-Ⅴ categories by the United States， A， B， C categories and temporary category by Britain， and narcotics， first and second class psychotropic substances by China. NPS control basis of the United States， Britain and China are Controlled Substances Act， Misuse of Drugs Act and Regulations on Narcotics and Psychotropic Drugs Control， respectively； major regulation organizations are Controlled Substances Enforcement Administration， Advisory Committee on Drug Abuse subordinated to Ministry of Interior， Special Drug Section under China Food and Drug Administration， respectively； there also are differences in the functions of control organization and cooperative units. Considering about the problems of NPS control in China， it is suggested to improve laws and regulations system， establish independent system， extend abuse surveillance network and encourage chronic non-cancer pain therapy.