WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1986
'SOFT DRUG SITUATION MONITORED CLOSELY
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ABUSE OF NON-OPIATE DRUGS, OR SOFT DRUGS, DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM AT THE PRESENT TIME WHEN COMPARED WITH ABUSE OF HEROIN, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JAMES FINDLAY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ROSANNA TAM, MR FINDLAY SAID, HOWEVER, THAT SURVEY RESULTS AND FIGURES FOR DRUG SEIZURES, PROSECUTIONS AND HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS HAD INDICATED SOME INCREASE IN THE ABUSE OF MANDRAX AND MARIJUANA,
THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN) WOULD BE REVIEWING THE POSITION IN THE NEAR FUTURE, HE SAID.
MR FINDLAY SAID THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS PROSECUTED FOR NON-OP I ATE DRUG OFFENCES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS WAS 76 IN 1983, 61 IN 1984 AND 101 IN 1985.
A SURVEY COVERING 18 SCHOOLS AND 2 500 STUDENTS HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT IN JUNE LAST YEAR TO COLLECT DATA ON THE ABUSE OF NON-OPIATE DRUGS.
+ THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CONDUCT ANOTHER SCHOOL SURVEY IN 1987-88,+ HE SAID.
+ALSO, THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE IS PROPOSING TO CONDUCT A SURVEY ON THE ABUSE OF DRUGS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL.+
SOFT'
MR FINDLAY SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN MONITORING THE DRUG SITUATION VERY CLOSELY SINCE 1983 WHEN ACAN ESTABLISHED A WORKING PARTY ON THE CONTROL OF PSYCHOTROPIC AND NON-OP I ATE NARCOTIC SUBSTANCES.
THE WORKING PARTY HAD SUBMITTED ITS FIRST INTERIM REPORT TO ACAN IN JUNE 1984, AND MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON THE DRUGS IN QUESTION.
THE MAJORITY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE APPROVED AND IMPLEMENTED. THESE INCLUDED THE SCHEDULING OF SECONAL AS A DANGEROUS DRUG; A REQUIREMENT FOR WHOLESALERS OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS TO EMPLOY A QUALIFIED PHARMACIST; THE SENDING OF RETURNS TO ACAN OF THE IMPORT, EXPORT, MANUFACTURE, STOCK HOLDING AND CONSUMPTION TRENDS OF NON-OPIATE DRUGS OF ABUSE; AND THE INSPECTION OF THE DANGEROUS DRUG RECORDS OF REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.
IN ADDITION, PREVENTIVE EDUCATION PUBLICITY THROUGH POSTERS, TELEVISION ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SCHOOL TALKS WAS BEING UNDERTAKEN TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM.
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