XN000022-1988-05-18 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1988

MORE PUBLICITY TO WARN YOUTH OF DRUG DANGERS

* * *

PUBLICITY TO WARN YOUNGSTERS OF THE DANGERS OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS AND THE PENALTIES THAT CAN BE INCURRED THROUGH TRAFFICKING HAS BEEN STEPPED UP SINCE 1987 BY MEANS OF POSTERS, TELEVISION ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THROUGH DISTRICT CAMPAIGNS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (WEDNESDAY).

TODAY

ABOUT

HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON RITA FAN, WHO ASKED UNDERLYING REASONS FOR AN INCREASING TREND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED UNDER 16 TO INDULGE IN SOFT DRUGS, AND WHAT ACTION WAS BEING TAKEN TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, IN PARTICULAR TO CURB TRAFFICKING OF MANDRAX TABLETS BY YOUNG PEOPLE.

MR BARNES SAID THAT OF THE MANY REASONS WHY YOUNG PEOPLE ABUSED THESE DRUGS, THE MAIN ONES WERE ASSESSED AS BEING THEIR CURIOSITY AND WISH TO EXPERIMENT, PEER PRESSURE, AND THE BELIEF SUCH DRUGS WERE HARMLESS.

THAT

"MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO TEND TO IMITATE FOREIGN FASHIONS AND FOR SOME, REGRETTABLY, THIS INCLUDES DRUG TAKING,' HE SAID.

REMEDIAL ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS.

APART FROM STEPPING UP PUBLICITY ΤΟ WARN YOUNGSTERS OF THE DANGERS OF THESE DRUGS, OTHER MEASURES HAD BREN INITIATED AND DIRECTED BY THE ACAN.

THESE INCLUDED:

OF

A SURVEY, LAST AUTUMN, OF 110,000 STUDENTS AT 148 SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND EIGHT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, THE FULL RESULTS WHICH WOULD BE ISSUED NEXT MONTH;

WARNING POSTERS PLACED AT ALL CUSTOMS ENTRY POINTS;

*

THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE HAD OPENED A CENTRE IN TSIM SHA TSUI, SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT PROVIDING COUNSELLING AND OTHER SERVICES FOR PEOPLE ABUSING PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS; AND

THE DRUG EDUCATION KIT SUPPLIED ΤΟ SCHOOL PRINCIPALS NOW HAD SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS.

IN

74,000

MR BARNES NOTED THAT POLICE AND CUSTOMS ACTION HAD RESULTED 274,000 MANDRAX TABLETS BEING SEIZED IN 1986, DROPPING ΤΟ TABLETS IN 1987.

"THIS DRAMATIC