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Total number of reported drug abusers declines while hidden drug abuse problem continues
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     The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) in its quarterly meeting today (March 31) reviewed the local drug situation in 2015 and the findings of the 2014/15 Survey of Drug Use Among Students (Student Survey). Both sets of statistics showed that the total number of reported drug abusers and young drug abusers had continued to decline, while the hidden drug abuse problem had continued.
 
     According to the latest figures of the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA), the total number of reported drug abusers in 2015 decreased by 5 per cent (from 9,059 to 8,598) when compared to 2014. The decline in the number of young drug abusers was even more notable, with the total number of reported abusers aged under 21 and the number of newly reported abusers aged under 21 in 2015 having decreased by 19 per cent (from 825 to 665) and 18 per cent (from 493 to 405) respectively.

     However, the total number of newly reported drug abusers increased slightly by 1 per cent (from 2,078 to 2,103). Over half (1,195) were identified in their young adulthood (aged 21 to 35).

     The latest CRDA figures also revealed that the hidden drug abuse problem had continued. 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) continued to rise, from 5.2 years in 2014 to 5.8 years in 2015.

     In 2015, the number of reported psychotropic substance abusers continued to be higher than the number of abusers taking narcotic analgesics. The two figures dropped by 3 per cent (from 5,537 to 5,360) and 4 per cent (from 4,606 to 4,401) respectively as compared to 2014.

     While heroin remained the most common type of drug abused, the number of reported abusers decreased by 4 per cent (from 4,604 to 4,398).

     Methamphetamine (ice) surpassed ketamine as the most common type of psychotropic substance abused, with the number of reported abusers having increased by 7 per cent (up from 2,061 to 2,195).

     Meanwhile, the number of reported abusers of most other types of psychotropic substances decreased: ketamine was 11 per cent lower (from 2,216 to 1,974); triazolam/midazolam/zopiclone was 5 per cent lower (from 1,020 to 973); cocaine was 8 per cent lower (from 657 to 606); cannabis was 3 per cent lower (from 353 to 343); cough medicine was 13 per cent lower (from 386 to 335); and nimetazepam was 6 per cent lower (from 34 to 32). The exception was methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), with the number of reported abusers having increased by 42 per cent (up from 38 to 54).

     ACAN also reviewed the findings of the 2014/15 Student Survey. The Survey is conducted by a research organisation commissioned by the Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau every three years. The Survey aims to obtain information on the latest drug-taking trends of local students and provide useful indicators on students' knowledge of drugs and attitudes towards drug-taking. The information assists the Government in formulating anti-drug policies and initiatives for better responding to the actual situation. The 2014/15 Survey successfully surveyed about 146,000 students from upper primary to post-secondary levels, accounting for about 20 per cent of the student population in Hong Kong.

     The Survey results showed a downward trend in student drug abuse, in line with the CRDA statistics. The number of students who claimed to have taken drugs dropped significantly by 17 per cent (from 17,500 to 14,500) as compared to the previous Survey. The proportion of drug-taking students among the student population decreased from 2.2 per cent to 2 per cent.

     The Survey results also showed that drug-taking students had predominantly taken psychotropic substances. Except for the increase in the number of cannabis abusers, there was a drop in the number of drug abusers across all psychotropic drug types. The most common types of drugs taken by upper primary students were cough medicine and ice, while the most common types of drugs among students at secondary level or above were cannabis and ketamine.

     The Survey results affirmed the increasingly hidden nature of youth drug abuse. Among the students surveyed, "friends'/schoolmates'/neighbours' homes" (36 per cent) and "students' own homes" (25 per cent) were the most common venues for drug taking. About 80 per cent of drug-taking students indicated that they had never sought help from others.

     The ACAN Chairman, Dr Ben Cheung, noted that although the local drug situation had suggested a declining trend, the drug history of abusers had lengthened. This reflected the continuing problem of hidden drug abuse and was a cause for concern.

     Dr Cheung said, "As prolonged drug abuse can cause irreversible bodily harm, it will be important to continue to step up preventive education, especially among youngsters, to enhance their understanding on the harms of drug abuse. Promotion of healthy lifestyles is essential to strengthen their resilience against drug temptation. According to the statistics, most young drug abusers take drugs at their own homes or at friends' homes. There are also increasing numbers of ice abusers and newly reported drug-taking young adults. We will therefore need to enhance publicity to raise public awareness of the drug problems, among parents and family members in particular, to facilitate early identification and intervention so as to assist drug abusers to seek help as early as possible."

     The Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Manda Chan, said that the continued decline in the number of reported 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. She stressed that the Government 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.

     Ms Chan said, "Although both the CRDA figures and the Student Survey results have shown an improvement of the youth drug abuse situation, the Government will not slacken its anti-drug endeavours.

     "To tackle the hidden drug abuse problem, the ND and ACAN will continue to implement suitable publicity initiatives through different media and platforms, including popular websites and mobile apps, to disseminate anti-drug messages to youngsters. Efforts in arranging anti-drug training for teachers and students, and encouraging secondary schools to join the Healthy School Programme with a Drug Testing Component to strengthen students' resolve in refusing drugs, will be sustained. We will also further publicise help-seeking channels to encourage people with drug problems to seek help through the ND's 24-hour anti-drug helpline 186 186, and the instant messaging service 98 186 186."

     The 2015 CRDA figures and the full report of the 2014/15 Student Survey are available on the ND's website (www.nd.gov.hk).

Ends/Thursday, March 31, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:31

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