The Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau today (March 29) published the Three-year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong for 2018-2020, which recommends the strategic directions that the drug treatment and rehabilitation (T&R) services should take from 2018 to 2020.
 
     In February 2017, a working group comprising members from T&R agencies, counselling centres, the medical sector and relevant government departments was formed to advise on the formulation of the Three-year Plan. The Chairman of the Action Committee Against Narcotics, Dr Ben Cheung, led the working group.
 
     Thanking the working group members and parties concerned for sharing their valuable experience and views, Dr Cheung said, "The Three-year Plan, the eighth of its kind, is the fruit of a consensus-building process. Extensive consultation had been conducted with stakeholders and service providers in the anti-drug sector to collect their views and ideas on issues relating to the drug problems. We sincerely appreciate the close partnership with the sector in discussing the provision of suitable T&R services.
 
     "Under the backdrop of a declining drug trend, the last Three-year Plan (2015-17) set out strategies for further developing and deepening T&R services. The current Three-year Plan (2018-20) goes further to focus on the strategic directions to respond to the major challenges presented by the latest drug situation. It underlines the importance of strengthening collaboration among various service providers for better addressing the T&R needs of different drug abusers.
 
     "We hope that the strategic directions recommended in the Three-year Plan would offer useful insights to anti-drug service providers and relevant parties in the course of reviewing and developing their T&R plans and programmes in the three-year period."
 
     The Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Manda Chan, said, "Although the number of reported drug abusers in Hong Kong has revealed a continued decrease, the evolving drug scene is presenting new challenges. The prevalence of methamphetamine (commonly known as 'Ice') abuse, hidden drug abuse, the relatively high proportion of young adult drug abusers, and the T&R needs of specific drug abuser groups are the main areas for which the Three-year Plan has outlined strategic directions of T&R services."
 
     Ms Chan added, "The ND, in partnership with relevant government departments, public bodies and non-governmental organisations, will continue to oversee and co-ordinate efforts as appropriate in pursuing initiatives according to the strategic directions."
 
     T&R is an essential component of the five-pronged anti-drug strategy, which also covers preventive education and publicity, law enforcement, external co-operation, and research.
 
     The full text of the Three-year Plan is available on the ND website (www.nd.gov.hk/en/index.htm).

Ends/Thursday, March 29, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:35

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