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The total number of drug abusers reported to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) in the first three quarters of 2006 was 10,779, 9.5% lower than that of the same period of 2005 (11,914). The decline was attributed mainly to a drop in the number of drug abusers aged 21 and over, by 13% against that of the same period of 2005.
The above figures were disclosed at today's (December 14) quarterly meeting of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN).
ACAN members were also told that the number of drug abusers under 21 rose by 9.9% (from 1,802 to 1,980) compared with the figures of the first three quarters of 2005.
Members noted that heroin remained the most widely abused drug, but the number of abusers fell significantly from 8,427 to 6,826, a drop of 19% over the same period of 2005.
Ketamine remained the most common type of psychotropic substance abused. The number of abusers increased by 36% in the first three quarters of 2006 (from 1,664 to 2,263) with 60.9% of them aged under 21.
A significant increase was recorded for nimetazepam abusers, with the number rising from 157 to 330. The increase was found mostly among those aged under 21, from 100 to 246.
The number of cocaine abusers in the first three quarters of 2006 (275) doubled that of the same period of 2005 (135). Those aged under 21 rose more significantly from 32 to 122.
Members also noted that 30.8% of the drug abusers took more than one drug type and the proportion of youngsters under 21 taking multiple drugs was higher, at 51.3%.
Analysing the CRDA figures, ACAN Chairman Dr Choi Yuen-wan said members were very concerned about the continuous growing trend of young abusers, which seemed to reflect their casual attitude towards the so called "party drugs".
"There is a need to educate young people that psychotropic substances can destroy them, both physically and mentally," Dr Choi said. "A casual attitude towards taking such substances is highly dangerous."
Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Sally Wong, said that in response to the concern of ACAN members, a new publicity drive would be launched. The objective of the campaign is to impress upon young people the detrimental effects of different kinds of psychotropic substances.
"Starting from tomorrow (December 15), two new TV and Radio Announcements in the Public Interest (API) will be broadcast. The new APIs will convey a strong message that ketamine and ecstasy, the most common psychotropic substances abused by young people in Hong Kong, will cause damage to the brain.
"Ketamine will make you lose your memory, self-control and the ability to speak properly. It may even give you heart problems. Ecstasy will cause paranoid delusion, convulsion, teeth-grinding and hand-shivering," Ms Wong said.
The TV APIs will be broadcast on public buses, KCR trains and on the website of the Narcotics Division (www.nd.gov.hk) in addition to the publicity leaflets, booklets and comic books already widely circulated through various channels.
New posters and advertisements on public buses with the same themes as the APIs will also be mounted to support the campaign.
Ms Wong said that although most youngsters in Hong Kong did not abuse drugs, it was vital to raise the awareness of parents towards the risk of their children being exposed to drugs.
"Parents are very important stakeholders and our partners in the war against drug abuse.
"In collaboration with Commercial Radio 1, the Narcotics Division will produce two special radio programmes to enhance the drug knowledge and communication skills of parents. The first programme, a half-hour show, will be broadcast on December 19 from 10.30pm to 11pm and it will run every Tuesday for eight consecutive weeks. Each episode will focus on a different drug-related topic. A special guest will be invited to hold discussions with the programme host and phone-in parents.
"Another special radio programme will begin broadcasting on February 17, 2007 and will be shown every Saturday morning for six consecutive weeks. This will be a five-minute Q & A segment incorporated into a parent education programme on air from 8am to 9am. Professionals like social workers, psychiatrists or clinical psychologists will be invited to give advice on drug-related issues that parents may wish to raise," Ms Wong added.
"We hope that these efforts will enhance parents' ability to protect their children from drug abuse," she said.
Ends/Thursday, December 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:55
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