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Members of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) reviewed the local drug situation in the first half of 2015 at their quarterly meeting today (October 8). They also noted that the overall number of drug abusers had continued to decline, with a more 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 the first half of 2015 decreased by 8 per cent (from 5,753 to 5,310) compared with the same period in 2014. The number of newly reported drug abusers (at 1,101) was close to that in the same period of 2014 (at 1,102).
The decline in the number of young drug abusers was even more noticeable. The number of reported drug abusers aged under 21 and the number of newly reported drug abusers aged under 21 in the first half of 2015 decreased by 14 per cent (from 492 to 425) and 15 per cent (from 262 to 224) respectively compared with the same period last year.
The latest figures of the CRDA also revealed a continued increase in the median drug abusing history of newly reported abusers (i.e. the period of time taken for abusers to be discovered by the CRDA reporting agencies from their first instance of drug abuse), with an increase from 5.2 years in 2014 to 6.1 years in the first half of 2015.
Members also reviewed other drug-related figures for the first half of 2015 at the meeting.
Compared with the same period in 2014, the number of reported psychotropic substance abusers continued to be higher than the number of abusers taking narcotics analgesics. However, there was a drop in both the number of abusers of psychotropic substances (from 3,366 to 3,130) and narcotics analgesics (from 2,973 to 2,830).
Among all reported drug abusers, heroin remained the most common type of drug abused. However, the number of reported heroin abusers was 5 per cent lower (from 2,973 to 2,829) compared with the same period last year.
Ketamine remained the most common type of psychotropic substance abused. The number of reported ketamine abusers was 12 per cent lower (from 1,414 to 1,251) compared with the same period in 2014. Among them, 14 per cent were young people aged under 21.
The number of reported abusers of most of the other types of psychotropic substances saw reductions: nimetazepam was 22 per cent lower (from 18 to 14), cough medicine was 15 per cent lower (from 236 to 200), triazolam/midazolam/zopiclone was 13 per cent lower (from 609 to 528) and cocaine was 13 per cent lower (from 393 to 343). However, the number of reported abusers of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methamphetamine (ice) and cannabis increased by 133 per cent (from 12 to 28), 6 per cent (from 1,141 to 1,204) and 4 per cent (from 198 to 205) respectively.
The ACAN Chairman, Dr Ben Cheung Kin-leung, said that despite the continued decline in the total number of drug abusers, the drug history of abusers had continued to lengthen. This reflects the hidden problem of drug abuse, which remains a cause for concern.
Dr Cheung said, "In the past few years, the number of psychotropic substance abusers has outnumbered that of narcotics analgesics abusers. Lacking obvious withdrawal symptoms, it is generally more difficult for the drug abuse behaviour of psychotropic substance abusers to be noticed by those around them. In addition, many abusers have low motivation to seek help and mistakenly believe that they can have control over drugs. Unfortunately, they succumb to drug temptation and become addicted. They are more reluctant to seek help until their health is seriously affected."
Dr Cheung added, "Prolonged abuse of psychotropic substances will cause serious and irreversible damage to the health of drug abusers. Therefore, it is very important to identify hidden drug abusers early and offer them timely assistance. People affected by drug problems, including drug abusers and their families and friends, can call the 24-hour telephone helpline 186 186, or make use of the smartphone applications WhatsApp and WeChat to send messages to 98 186 186 to seek help from social workers."
The Commissioner for Narcotics, Mrs Erika Hui, said that although the overall number of reported drug abusers had continued to decline, the Government would not slacken its anti-drug efforts. She stressed that the Government adopts a zero tolerance policy on drug problems and would continue its five-pronged anti-drug strategy, namely preventive education and publicity, treatment and rehabilitation, legislation and law enforcement, external co-operation and research, to tackle drug problems in a holistic manner. The Government would also closely monitor the latest drug situation and take corresponding action in a timely manner to combat drug problems.
Mrs Hui said, "Prevention is better than cure. The Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau will continue to work with the ACAN to enhance anti-drug preventive education and publicity, to arouse public awareness of the harms of drug abuse and to strengthen resilience against drug temptation. Moreover, to tackle the worsening problem of hidden drug abuse, we will step up publicity on the availability of help-seeking channels to encourage drug abusers to seek assistance early so that they can lead a positive and healthy life again."
Mrs Hui added, "We are also very concerned about young people being exploited in drug trafficking activities. While the law enforcement agencies will continue to guard closely against any such activities, we will step up efforts on preventive education and publicity to remind youngsters that drug trafficking is a serious offence and to correct the misguided beliefs that young people are less criminally culpable than adults when involved in drug-related offences."
Ends/Thursday, October 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:10
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