Beat drugs fund applications discussed
The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) had discussed the support- worthiness of the applications to the Beat Drugs Fund at its meeting today (Tuesday) and made recommendations to the Beat Drugs Fund Association, the governing body of the Fund.
A total of 44 applications, seeking about $59.5 million, were received between April 30 to June 1 when applications for the first batch of grants of the fund were invited.
Among them, 21 asked for funding for projects on preventive education and publicity, 20 on treatment and rehabilitation and three on research.
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The Chairman of ACAN, Professor C N Chen, said the enthusiastic responses to the Fund indicated a keen interest within the community to battle the drug menace.
ACAN's recommendations would shortly be considered by the Beat Drugs Fund Association. The results of the application are expected to be announced in late September or early October.
The $350-million Beat Drugs Fund was established in April to provide funding support to worthwhile projects which can help reduce the drug abuse problem. Applications to the Fund are invited twice a year.
At today's meeting, members of ACAN also discussed the drug statistics for the second quarter of 1996 compiled by the Government's Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA).
The figures indicated that the number of reported drug abusers under 21 decreased by 14.2 per cent to 1,273 in the second quarter of 1996 from 1,484 in the corresponding period of last year.
Among them, 511 were newly reported, down by five per cent from 538 recorded in the second quarter of 1995.
During the second quarter of 1996, a total of 7,150 drug abusers of all ages were reported to CRDA, representing a slight decrease of 0.6 per cent from 7,194 in the same period last year.