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Total number of reported drug abusers in decline but drug abuse among young adults requires attention
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     The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) reviewed the local drug situation in the first half of 2017 at its quarterly meeting today (September 15). The overall number of reported drug abusers declined as compared to the same period last year, while drug abuse among young adults still requires attention.

     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 2017 decreased by 23 per cent (from 5,211 to 3,994) as compared with the same period in 2016. The number of newly reported drug abusers decreased by 30 per cent (from 1,089 to 758), while half of them (50 per cent) were young adults aged between 21 and 35, showing that drug abuse in this age group still requires attention.

     The number of reported drug abusers aged under 21 registered a decrease of 20 per cent (from 315 to 252), among which the number of newly reported cases decreased by 17 per cent (from 206 to 170).

     The latest CRDA figures also revealed that the median drug abuse history of newly reported abusers (i.e. the time for abusers to be reported to the CRDA by reporting agencies from their first drug abuse) was 3.9 years, compared with 4.6 years in 2016.

     In the first half of 2017, the total number of reported psychotropic substance abusers (PSAs) and narcotic analgesic abusers decreased by 32 per cent (from 3,266 to 2,230) and 13 per cent (from 2,599 to 2,261) respectively. Among the newly reported cases, the number of PSAs (662) was substantially higher than that of narcotic analgesic abusers (95), reflecting the continued prevalence of psychotropic substance abuse.

     Heroin remained the most common type of drug abused among all reported drug abusers, while the total number of reported heroin abusers decreased by 13 per cent (from 2,597 to 2,261).

     Methamphetamine (commonly known as "Ice"), with the number of reported abusers having decreased from 1,482 to 982, continued to be the most common type of psychotropic substance abused. Decreases were also recorded for other major types of psychotropic substances abused, including triazolam/midazolam/zopiclone (from 603 to 487), cocaine (from 449 to 429), ketamine (from 888 to 394), cannabis (from 261 to 181), cough medicine (from 259 to 136), MDMA ("ecstasy") (from 39 to 16) and nimetazepam (from 16 to 14).

     The ACAN Chairman, Dr Ben Cheung, said, "Although the overall number of reported drug abusers in the first half of 2017 has declined and the median drug abuse history of newly reported cases has become shorter, the relatively high proportion of drug-abusing young adults and hidden drug abuse still call for continuous anti-drug efforts. Drug abuse does not solve problems or relieve stress, but will only cause serious harms to health and social, family and work lives.

     "At the start of the new school year, we encourage our youngsters to pursue positive values and stand firm against drugs."

     The Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Manda Chan, said, "To raise the awareness of drug harms among youngsters, we have over the summer enhanced anti-drug publicity through different online platforms. We will continue to work with different organisations to strengthen the preventive education and publicity programmes to encourage drug-free living. Anti-drug information and help are available through the Narcotic Division (ND)'s anti-drug hotline 186 186 and instant messaging service 98 186 186."

     The CRDA figures for the first half of 2017 are available on the ND's website.
 
Ends/Friday, September 15, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:20
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