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Members of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) noted in their quarterly meeting today (March 27) that the local drug situation continued to show a declining trend in 2014, with a significant drop in the number of young drug abusers.
According to the latest figures of the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA), the total number of reported drug abusers in 2014 decreased by 13 per cent (from 10,241 to 8,926) when compared to 2013. There was also a 23 per cent drop (from 2,623 to 2,008) in the number of newly reported drug abusers.
Among them, the decline in the number of young drug abusers was even more obvious when compared with the year before. The total number of reported drug abusers aged under 21 and the number of newly reported drug abusers aged under 21 in 2014 decreased by 35 per cent (from 1,223 to 800) and 36 per cent (from 744 to 474) respectively.
The latest figures of the CRDA also saw a continued increase in the median time of abusing drugs by newly reported abusers (i.e. the time for abusers to be discovered by the CRDA reporting agencies from their first drug abuse), with an increase from 4.7 years in 2013 to 5.2 years in 2014.
The ACAN Chairman, Dr Ben Cheung Kin-leung, said that although the local drug situation had been easing, the worsening problem of hidden drug abuse and the lengthening in drug history of newly reported drug abusers were causes for concern.
Dr Cheung said, "Prolonged drug abuse can cause irreversible bodily harm. Delayed treatment will not only bring hardship on the individual, but also induce considerable costs to his family and the society as a whole. Therefore, early identification of drug abusers and rendering them appropriate assistance is particularly important. To tackle the worsening situation of hidden drug abuse, ACAN and the Narcotics Division will continue to enhance publicity efforts to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of drugs and encourage people with drug problems to seek early help. Apart from seeking assistance from relevant organisations, people in need can call the 24-hour anti-drug helpline 186 186 or make use of the smartphone applications WhatsApp and WeChat to send messages to 98 186 186 to seek help."
The Commissioner for Narcotics, Mrs Erika Hui, said that the continued decline in the number of drug abusers testified to the effectiveness of the Government's anti-drug strategy and was the result of the concerted efforts of various sectors in the community, but she stressed that the Government would not slacken its anti-drug efforts and would continue to adopt the five-pronged strategy, namely preventive education and publicity, treatment and rehabilitation, legislation and law enforcement, external co-operation and research, to combat drug problems in a holistic manner.
Mrs Hui pointed out that in view of recent cases of youths being arrested and sentenced for drug-related offences, the Government would step up publicity to remind young people that drug trafficking is a serious offence.
She said, "Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence. The maximum penalty for drug trafficking is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million upon conviction. Young people should remain vigilant and not be lured into drug trafficking and break the law."
Members also reviewed other drug-related figures for 2014 at the meeting.
In 2014, the number of reported psychotropic substance abusers continued to be higher than the number of abusers taking narcotics analgesics. There was a drop in both the number of abusers of psychotropic substances (from 6,303 to 5,428) and narcotics analgesics (from 5,127 toĦ@4,581).
Among all reported drug abusers, heroin remained the most common type of drug abused. However, there was a decline of 11 per cent (from 5,125 to 4,579) in the number of reported heroin abusers compared to 2013.
Ketamine remained the most common type of psychotropic substance abused. The number of ketamine abusers dropped by 26 per cent (from 2,922 to 2,166) compared to 2013.
Except for increases of 28, 11 and 9 per cent respectively in the number of abusers of nimetazepam, cannabis and methamphetamine (ice), the number of abusers of other types of psychotropic substances dropped: ecstasy (36 per cent lower), cocaine (27 per cent lower), triazolam/midazolam/zopiclone (10 per cent lower), and cough medicine (10 per cent lower).
Ends/Friday, March 27, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:51
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