5
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1994
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL TARGETS OF ACAN'S COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAMME. THE YOUTH VOLUNTEER GROUP UNDER ACAN COMPRISES ENTHUSIASTIC YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN TRAINING AND ENCOURAGING OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE AND DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS. A COMMUNITY AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME FUNDS PROJECTS BY STUDENTS, YOUTH GROUPS AND THE COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE ANTI-DRUG ACTIVITIES. COMMUNITY CAMPAIGNS ARE ORGANISED AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL AND PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE AND ENLISTING COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
OUR PUBLICITY PLACES SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON YOUNGSTERS, AND THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN STEERING THEIR CHILDREN AWAY FROM DRUGS. POSTERS, LEAFLETS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST ARE PRODUCED. A COMPREHENSIVE DRUG EDUCATION TEACHING KIT FOR SCHOOL USE WAS PRODUCED AT THE END OF 1991. LAST YEAR, OUR DRUG ABUSE TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE WAS AUTOMATED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF COMMON SUBSTANCES OF ABUSE, AND TO GIVE ADVICE ON COUNSELLING AND TREATMENT.
AS
TURNING TO TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION, DRUG ADDICTION IS SEEN A MEDICAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEM AND ADDICTS ARE TREATED AS PATIENTS. YOUNG ABUSERS CAN JOIN THE VOLUNTARY OUT-PATIENT METHADONE PROGRAMME PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, OR THE VOLUNTARY IN-PATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMME RUN BY THE SARDA. IN RESPONSE TO THE EMERGENCE OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE, A COUNSELLING CENTRE KNOWN AS PS33 WAS SET UP BY THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND A LARGE PROPORTION OF ITS CLIENTS IS YOUNG ABUSERS. A PILOT PROJECT FOR A TREATMENT CENTRE SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE HAS THE SUPPORT OF ACAN AND PLANNING IS UNDERWAY.
BESIDES ACAN, THE WORKING GROUP ON SERVICES FOR YOUTH AT
RISK, SET UP UNDER THE COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, WAS FORMED IN JULY 1993. THE WORKING GROUP PROVIDES A FORUM FOR CONCERNED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROFESSIONALS TO EXAMINE CURRENT YOUTH PROBLEMS, IDENTIFY SERVICE GAPS AND RECOMMEND WAYS OF ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE AT RISK. AMONG THE AREAS OF EXAMINATION, THE WORKING GROUP HAS RECENTLY STARTED TO LOOK AT ILLICIT USE OF DRUGS BY YOUNG PEOPLE.
WITH THE EXISTENCE OF ACAN AND THE OTHER MULTI-DISCIPLINARY GROUPS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF DRUG ABUSE BY YOUNG PEOPLE, WE DO NOT SEE THE NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP ΤΟ DUPLICATE THE EFFORTS.
MR PRESIDENT, I AM GLAD THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ΤΟ DEBATE THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT. I AM GRATEFUL FOR MEMBERS' SUGGESTIONS ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS WE SHOULD MAKE IN OUR APPROACH TO TACKLING THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE BY YOUNG PEOPLE. CERTAINLY CONSIDER AND PURSUE THESE SUGGESTIONS.
WE
SHALL
/I AGREE
J