XN000022-1983-06-25 — Page 5

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SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1983

+THE LAST THING THAT AN ADDICT WANTS IS TO BE SHUNNED BY HIS FAMILY OR NEIGHBOURS. WITHOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND SYMPATHY, NO ADDICT CAN HOPE TO REMAIN FREE OF DRUGS FOR LONG, SHE SAID.

MRS CHAN NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF YOUNG DRUG ADDICTS IN HONG KONG WAS SMALL BUT THERE APPEARED TO BE A RISING TREND IN THE NUMBER OF ADDICTS UNDER THE AGE OF 21 BEING REPORTED TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE.

IN 1978, OF 6 559 NEWLY REPORTED INDIVIDUALS, ONLY 5.9 PER CENT WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 7 AND 21.

THIS PERCENTAGE ROSE STEADILY TO 14.2 PER CENT IN 1980, 22.4 PER CENT IN 1981 AND 26.8 PER CENT IN 1982.

THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PERSONS PROSECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES, RANGING FROM SIMPLE POSSESSION TO TRAFFICKING, ALSO INCREASED FROM 294 IN 1978 TO 1 016 IN 1982.

+WHILE THERE IS NO CAUSE YET FOR SERIOUS CONCERN, THE SITUATION OBVIOUSLY NEEDS CAREFUL WATCHING,+ SHE SAID.

MRS CHAN SAID IT WAS WELL KNOWN THAT YOUNG ADDICTS OFTEN PICKED UP THE HABIT THROUGH SHEER IGNORANCE, PEER GROUP PRESSURE, CURIOSITY OR BECAUSE OF UNHAPPY FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES.

+PREVENTIVE MEASURES,+ SHE SAID, +CANNOT BE RELEGATED JUST TO SCHOOLS AND THE GOVERNMENT. I WOULD STRESS THE VITAL ROLE THAT PARENTS CAN PLAY HERE.+

SHE DESCRIBED ADOLESCENCE AS AN UNSETTLING PERIOD+ AS YOUNGSTERS UNDERGO CONSIDERABLE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND SEXUAL CHANGES.

DURING THIS CRUCIAL AND SENSITIVE PERIOD, A STABLE AND LOVING FAMILY ENVIRONMENT COULD MAKE THE DIFFÉRENCE BETWEEN TURNING OUT A WELL ADJUSTED, RESPONSIBLE ADULT OR A DISGRUNTLED SOCIAL MISFIT.

+AS THE CHILD MATURES, HE NEEDS HIS PARENTS BY HIS SIDE TO GUIDE, EDUCATE AND SUPPORT HIM EMOTIONALLY.

+AN ALERT AND SUPPORTING PARENT CAN DO MUCH TO KEEP THE CHILD FROM TAKING TO DRUGS OR IF THE YOUNGSTER UNFORTUNATELY FALLS PREY TO DRUG ABUSE, TO TAKE EARLY STEPS TO SEEK TREATMENT,✦ SHE SAID.

MRS CHAN SAID THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD GIVEN EVERY SUPPORT TO THE LOK HEEP CLUB AND WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.

SHE WAS SORRY TO NOTE THE DIFFICULTIES THE CLUB HAD EXPERIENCED IN RE-PROVISIONING ITS HONG KONG CLUB HOUSE.

IT WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT BOTH TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE AGENCY THAT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO RE-PROVISION THE CLUB IN A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE FELL THROUGH BECAUSE OF RESISTANCE FROM THE RESIDENTS, SHE SAID.

/+I HOPE