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The opening of the Kowloon East Substance Abuse Clinic (KESAC) in October 2008 had enhanced the specialist medical services for psychotropic substance abusers, Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Sally Wong, said during a visit to KESAC today (December 19).
Recognising an imminent service need, the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse recommended the setting up of two additional Substance Abuse Clinics (SACs). One of which is KESAC in the United Christian Hospital (UCH). There are altogether seven SACs in the territory with one SAC in every cluster.
Collaborating with the Counselling Centre for Psychotropic Substance Abusers (CCPSA) in relevant cluster, the SAC can provide professional support for cases needing specialist medical intervention.
During the visit, Ms Wong exchanged views with Cluster Chief of Service (Psychiatry), Kowloon East Cluster, Hospital Authority Dr Michael Yiu; Senior Medical Officer (Psychiatry), UCH Dr Lam Wai-chung; and Centre-in-charge, Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, Evergreen Lutheran Centre, the CCPSA in Kowloon East cluster Ms Carol Ng, on the collaboration between SACs and CCPSAs on a cluster basis.
As suggested by many anti-drug workers in the field, Ms Wong said the task force saw merit in introducing medical support services in CCPSAs. These services would include body checks, drug tests, motivational interviews, and drug-related consultation. ¡§These services can help identify drug abusers, assess their health condition, motivate them to seek early treatment and rehabilitation, and make timely referrals of needy cases to SACs,¡¨ she said. ¡§It would also make CCPSA services more comprehensive as a first stop in the community to handle psychotropic substance abusers.¡¨
As regards the KESAC, a psychiatrist, a nurse, a clinical psychologist, an occupational therapist and a medical social worker are deployed to provide holistic patient-centred service to users.
¡§I am pleased to know that multi-disciplinary approach as recommended by the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse has been adopted at KESAC. Such arrangement can enhance case management, improve service delivery and ensure a more effective use of community resources,¡¨ Ms Wong said.
She also noted the opening of KESAC was timely in view of the rising trend of psychotropic substances abuse by youths.
According to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse, the number of reported young drug abusers under 21 has increased by 18% (2,729) in the first three quarters of 2008, compared with that of the same period in 2007 (2,312).
Continuing the trend since the end of 2007, the total number of psychotropic substance abusers (6,478) was again higher than that of abusers taking heroin (6,127).
Ketamine remained the most common type of psychotropic substance abused. The number of reported ketamine abusers was 27.2 % higher in the first three quarters of 2008 compared to the same period last year (from 3,096 to 3,939). Among these abusers, 58.9% were aged under 21.
In view of the seriousness of the youth drug abuse problem, Ms Wong made an appeal to youths to stay away from drugs when enjoying the Christmas and New Year holidays.
¡§Young people can enjoy the festive season without taking psychotropic substances. You are really smart and 'cool' if you stand firm and say 'no' to drugs. Those who offer you drugs are not your real friends,¡¨ she said.
Ms Wong also called for better communication between parents and their children. ¡§Show your care and listen to your children patiently. In case your children show signs of drug abuse, care and communication can help solve the problem,¡¨ she said.
The Narcotics Division, Security Bureau will step up publicity efforts during the festive seasons. To get the anti-drug messages across more effectively, advertisements will be placed in online discussion forums frequently visited by local youngsters. The anti-drug campaign theme song, sung by popular music duo FAMA, would also be given intensive promotion through mobile phone SMS, karaoke groups and popular video sharing websites.
Other publicity measures include displaying anti-drug posters at cross-boundary train stations, increasing the broadcast frequency of TV and Radio Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs), and holding preventive education and publicity activities with other organisations at district level.
Ends/Friday, December 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:27
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