340 Public Order
international schools. In total, the division presented 662 educational talks on drugs to 84 576 students. Talks and seminars about drugs were also organised for 6 765 teachers, social workers and members of youth groups. The division also ensured that anti-drug educational activities offered by various government departments and NGOS to secondary school students carried the right message and the most current findings and trends.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre (DIC), the first-ever exhibition centre dedicated to drug education in Hong Kong, continued to serve as a platform for promoting the anti-drug message to the public. Apart from the provision of tailor- made education programmes for major target groups including students, youths and parents, training sessions for school principals, teachers and social workers were also held at DIC. During the year, 34 746 visitors have made use of the centre which organised 443 education programmes for 15 281 students, 7 947 members of youth groups, community organisations, and rehabilitation centres. Nine workshops were conducted for more than 250 principals, teachers and social workers of primary and secondary schools.
Youngsters continued to be the primary target of the division's intensive anti- drug publicity initiatives.
initiatives. A nine-month programme, jointly
programme, jointly organised with Commercial Radio 2, was launched in April. Young participants learnt about the damage caused by drugs by visiting DIC and meeting rehabilitated drug abusers face- to-face. They also entered their creative work, such as short films, pop songs, posters and T-shirts with anti-drug messages, in a contest and the winning entries were displayed at DIC. Radio interviews with young participants were broadcast to alert their peers to how damaging drugs can be.
To further drive home the message that drugs damage health, a series of four three-minute films focusing on the harm drugs can do were produced and shown on buses in August and later the Narcotics Division's website (www.nd.gov.hk). A new booklet Understanding Drug Abuse Problem and a new leaflet Drug Abuse is Dangerous targeting parents, teachers and youngsters were also published.
TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) and posters with a new theme, 'Drugs Screw Up Your Life' were produced during the year. The new APIs targeted at young working adults, with special emphasis on the physical and physio- biological damage drug abuse can cause. There was also extra publicity during festive seasons and summer holidays. In addition to advertisements on electronic media and public transport, Short Messaging System (SMS) messages were sent to young mobile phone users aged 15 to 25 with the help of mobile phone network providers to remind youngsters not to take drugs while enjoying their holidays.
Drug Abuse, Statistics and Trends
The statistics compiled on drug abuse trends are based on the Central Registry of Drug Abuse. The registry collates information on drug abusers through a wide network of reporting agencies, including law enforcement departments, treatment and welfare agencies, hospitals and clinics. The computer system for the registry was overhauled during the year and a redeveloped system was introduced in April, which