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Members of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) were pleased to note that the local drug situation in the first quarter of 2013 continued to improve at its quarterly meeting today (June 27). Both the total number of reported drug abusers and young drug abusers aged under 21 had dropped when compared to the same period in 2012.
According to the latest figures of the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA), the total number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2013 dropped by 17 per cent (from 4,055 to 3,377), when compared to the same period last year. There was also a 38 per cent decline (from 595 to 367) in the number of reported young drug abusers aged under 21.
The number of newly reported drug abusers decreased by 31 per cent (from 803 to 553) while the number of newly reported young drug abusers aged under 21 dropped by 49 per cent (from 325 to 166).
The total number of reported female drug abusers was 25 per cent lower (from 677 to 508), while the number of male drug abusers dropped by 15 per cent (from 3,378 to 2,869).
The Chairman of ACAN, Professor Daniel Shek, said, "It is encouraging to see the continued drop in the number of reported drug abusers, in particular the drop in the number of young drug abusers, which is more obvious. We believe that this is a result of the implementation of various anti-drug measures by the Government, with the support and co-operation of different sectors of the community.
"In spite of the improvement in the local drug situation, we will not be complacent. ACAN will continue to work closely with the Government and different sectors of the community to fight drugs together."
The Commissioner for Narcotics, Mrs Erika Hui, said that although the overall drug situation was improving, the Administration was concerned about the hidden nature of drug abuse. She said, "We will continue to put forward the five-pronged strategy, namely preventive education and publicity, treatment and rehabilitation, legislation and law enforcement, external co-operation and research, to combat drugs in a comprehensive manner.
"Addressing the problem of the increasingly hidden nature of drug abuse, the Beat Drugs Fund will support the District Fight Crime Committees (DFCCs), together with their District Offices (DOs), to initiate suitable district programmes to enable a broader cross-section of the community, including parents, teachers and frontline workers, to play a more active role in drug prevention, early identification and intervention. With their clear understanding of district needs, we believe that the DFCCs are best placed to co-ordinate district-based networks and spearhead district-level drug awareness building initiatives. Activities may be organised as initiatives of DFCCs and DOs, as joint efforts by DFCCs or DOs and specific non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or district bodies, or with funding allocated to individual NGOs or district bodies by DFCCs and DOs.
"In parallel, we will continue to promote increased vigilance in the community against the problem of youth drug abuse at home, and enhance parents' awareness of the problem. Specifically, we will step up the promotion of the 24-hour anti-drug telephone service 186 186 and encourage those troubled by drugs to seek help early."
Mrs Hui added that according to the latest information of the CRDA, many young people were induced to take drugs by friends. In this regard, the Narcotics Division launched a new TV Announcement in the Public Interest to bring out the key message that one does not have to prove friendship or love by taking drugs.
ACAN members also reviewed other drug-related figures for the first quarter of 2013 at the meeting.
In the first quarter of 2013, the number of reported narcotics analgesics abusers (1,934) was higher than the number of abusers taking psychotropic substances (1,769).
Heroin remained the most popular drug abused and ketamine continued to be the most popular type of psychotropic substance abused among reported abusers. The total number of reported heroin abusers and ketamine abusers dropped by 16 per cent (from 2,314 to 1,934) and 20 per cent (from 1,058 to 844) respectively compared with the first quarter of 2012. Among ketamine abusers, 25 per cent were aged under 21.
There were also declines in the number of reported abusers of other types of psychotropic substances: nimetazepam (84 per cent lower), ecstasy (65 per cent lower), cocaine (39 per cent lower), cannabis (37 per cent lower), cough medicine (27 per cent lower), ice (13 per cent lower) and triazolam/midazolam/zopiclone (9 per cent lower).
With the summer holidays approaching, Mrs Hui encouraged young people to participate in healthy activities, develop healthy living habits and stay away from drugs.
Ends/Thursday, June 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:24
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