The following is issued on behalf of the Secretariat of the Beat Drugs Fund Association:
 
     The Beat Drugs Fund (BDF) is inviting grant applications for the 2017 Funding Exercise of the Regular Funding Scheme (RFS) from today (August 4) until September 15.
 
     The BDF aims to promote worthwhile anti-drug projects that can help address the problem of drug abuse. For the 2017 Funding Exercise of the RFS, the Beat Drugs Fund Association will accord priority to projects that address the prevalent drug situation. Projects meeting one or more of the following areas will be accorded priority:
 
     On the treatment and rehabilitation front, priority consideration will be given to:
 

• Projects that take into account the latest demographic characteristics of drug abusers and cater for their varying needs. They may include young adults (aged 21 to 35), female drug abusers including pregnant ones, ethnic minorities and sexual minorities. The projects could be on a pilot basis, be community or residential based, or involve treatment in a hospital setting or in an outreaching mode;
• Projects that support family members of drug abusers, which could serve as a means of engaging hidden drug abusers in families, providing motivational support for handling emotional distress, as well as preventing inter-generational drug abuse patterns;
• Projects that promote/strengthen collaboration among various sectors and service modes to tackle the increasingly complex psychotropic substance abuse cases, and to facilitate a continuum of services for drug abusers. Key players may involve community-based service units, residential drug treatment and rehabilitation centres, medical services, law enforcement agencies and other service units in the community;
• Projects that facilitate early identification of drug abusers and intervention, including but not limited to peer snowballing and closer collaboration with parties which may have contact with drug abusers in their services for case referral;
• Projects that strengthen aftercare services for those who have successfully quit drugs so as to minimise relapse and facilitate reintegration into society. Examples include counselling at the post-treatment stage, occupational therapy, vocational training, provision of job placement opportunities and job counselling; and
• Projects that provide structured training or platforms for experience sharing among anti-drug workers and related sectors/personnel to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge for handling the increasingly complex psychotropic substance abuse cases.

 
     On the preventive education and publicity front, priority consideration will be given to:
 

• Projects that enhance awareness of drug harms, especially in respect of "ice", ketamine, cannabis and/or cocaine, among the general youth, high-risk youth, students at different levels or with different backgrounds, ethnic minorities and/or sexual minorities who may be at risk of drug abuse, particularly in providing preventive education on the risks and harms associated with drug abuse, rectifying mistaken concepts and promoting attitudinal change towards drugs, encouraging early help-seeking, and enhancing knowledge of the serious consequences of committing drug-related offences;
• Projects that enhance awareness of the drug problem among young adults (aged 21 to 35) who fall outside the school network (e.g. young working adults), employers and/or business operators to develop resilience towards drug temptation, facilitate identification of hidden abusers, encourage early help-seeking, and develop a drug-free culture at the workplace;
• Projects that enhance the awareness of families, especially at-risk families (e.g. teenage mothers, parents or family members who are ex-drug abusers, and family members who are high-risk youth) of the drug problem, and strengthen the role and abilities of family members in reducing the risk of drug abuse, identifying hidden abusers early and encouraging early help-seeking; and
• Projects that promote community acceptance of treatment and rehabilitation services and facilities and reintegration of rehabilitees into society.

      
     On the research front, priority consideration will be given to:
 

• Research on the characteristics of psychotropic substance abuse, particularly on psychotropic substances which have gained prevalence in Hong Kong such as "ice", ketamine, cannabis and cocaine, to provide more information about the drug harms and to identify suitable treatment methods; and
• Research on the behavioural patterns, including relapse patterns, of different groups of drug abusers (e.g. female drug abusers, pregnant drug abusers, working drug abusers and drug abusers among ethnic minorities).

     The application form and guide to applicants are available on the website of the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau (www.nd.gov.hk/en/beat_drug_fund_2017.htm). Briefing sessions for interested applicants will be held on August 23 and 25 at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre. The enrolment form for the briefing sessions is also available from the same website. 
 
     Enquiries are welcome by telephone on 2867 2737 or 2867 2286; by fax on 2810 1790; or via email to bdf@sb.gov.hk.
      
     The results of applications for the 2017 Funding Exercise are expected to be released in the first quarter of 2018. Applications for the next round of funding exercise will tentatively be invited in the third quarter of 2018.

Ends/Friday, August 4, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:51

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