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Young people encouraged to keep healthy lifestyle
The Government has actively promoted health education in primary schools to drive home the adverse effects of drug and substance abuse and to help young people fully understand the right ways in using drug, the Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, said.
The measure is taken in light of an upward trend of drug abuse among young people in recent years, she said when launching Hong Kong's first Chinese-language Life Education Centre today (Thursday).
According to a report "Case Studies of Drug Abuse Among Young People" published by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups last October, the average age of young drug abusers was decreasing and there was a lack of alertness to the danger of drugs.
Government statistics showed that up to mid-1994, 58.8 per cent of new drug abuse cases involved young people, as compared with 39.4 per cent in the same period in 1989. This was a drastic increase, Mrs Chan said.
"Stepping up education on preventive measures to remind young people
to stay away from drugs is very important."
Through group discussions and role play, the "Life Education Activities Programme" teaches primary pupils the importance of correctly using drugs and keeping a healthy lifestyle.
The teaching materials used in the programme have been translated into Chinese and new Chinese textbooks have been published.
"The use of mother tongue in conducting these life education activities is in line with the Government policy of promoting mother tongue education," she added.
Mrs Chan hoped that more primary pupils could benefit from the programme and develop the right concept of a healthy lifestyle.
End/Thursday, January 12, 1995