(c)
32
the treatment and rehabilitation facilities provided for female drug abusers and the effectiveness of such facilities?
Reply:
Mr President,
(a)
The study on young female drug abusers was commissioned by the Action Committee Against Narcotics in 1995 and was completed in December 1996. It seeks to identify the circumstances leading to drug abuse among young females and the implications for preventive and treatment programmes.
The circumstances leading to drug abuse, or so called "risk factors", include positive attitude towards drugs, tendency for sensation seeking, susceptibility to peer group pressure, family disharmony, and exposure to peer and family drug users. On the other hand, women's sense of self- efficacy, family cohesion, and the presence of social support are identified as "protective factors" that may buffer against drug abuse behaviour.
The findings also suggest that the effects of risk and protective factors on female drug abuse are mediated by women's psychological state. In particular, life satisfaction augments the buffering effect of protective factors in reducing drug abuse behaviour, whereas the presence of psychological distress enhances the effect of risk factors in increasing the vulnerability to drug abuse.
The study recommends a multi-component approach to the prevention and treatment of female drug abuse. On the prevention side, the approach suggests that -
(
(ii)
public education activities and media campaigns be launched to address the female drug abuse problem;
women who are at risk of drug abuse be encouraged to take part in alternative activities and to develop healthy hobbies; and
(iii) family life education programmes which emphasize harmony, cohesion and support among family members be organized as a buffer against the risk of drug abuse.