XN000022-1990-02-14 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990

OF

MR BARNES SAID THE NUMBER

PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE ABUSERS AGED UNDER 21 REPORTED TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE DID NOT REVEAL THE FULL PICTURE, BUT IT INDICATED A DEFINITE UPWARD TREND IN PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

THE NUMBER OF SUCH ABUSERS REPORTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS WERE 58 IN 1985, 131 IN 1986, 160 IN 1987, 256 IN 1988, AND 286 UP TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.

"THE DRUGS MOST COMMONLY ABUSED ARE CANNABIS, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 155 OR 54 PER CENT OF NEW CASES IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1989, AND MANDRAX, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 48, OR 17 PER CENT OF THESE CASES, MR BARNES SAID.

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THERE WERE MANY REASONS WHY YOUNG PEOPLE ABUSED DRUGS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SAID.

"THE COMMON CAUSES ARE THOUGHT TO BE CURIOSITY, PEER PRESSURE, A MISPLACED DESIRE FOR FUN AND EXCITEMENT AND THE MISCONCEPTION THAT PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS ARE HARMLESS.

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

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ON THE TWO-FOLD THRUST OF THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS, MR BARNES SAID: "FIRSTLY, PUBLICITY IS DIRECTED AT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND PARENTS IN PARTICULAR TO ENLIST THEIR SUPPORT IN ACTIVELY DISCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM STARTING ON DRUGS.

"AND SECONDLY, WE AIM TO PROMOTE AND EXPAND DRUG EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, WHICH STARTS AT PRIMARY 6 IN THE GENERAL CONTEXT OF BASIC HEALTH EDUCATION.'

HE SAID THE DANGERS OF DRUGS WERE COVERED IN GREATER DETAIL IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL STUDIES, ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MORAL EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS,

MR BARNES SAID TO REMIND THOSE WHO HAD LEFT SCHOOLS OF THE DANGERS OF DRUGS, THE NARCOTICS DIVISION GAVE DRUG EDUCATION TALKS TO YOUNGSTERS IN YOUTH ORGANISATIONS, BOYS' AND GIRLS' HOMES AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED THE ACAN YOUTH VOLUNTEER GROUP WHICH SOLICITED YOUTH VolunteerS TO ASSIST IN ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGNS AND THE YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME WHICH PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO YOUNG PEOPLE FROM YOUTH CENTRES, FACTORIES AND SCHOOLS ΤΟ DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROJECTS.

MR BARNES SAID IN DECEMBER 1988, A YOUTH ADVISORY GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM A CROSS-SECTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAD BEEN FORMED TO ADVISE ACAN ON THE CURRENT THINKING OF YOUNGSTERS ON DRUG ABUSE ISSUES SO THAT REALISTIC PUBLICITY STRATEGIES COULD BE FORMULATED TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM IMPACT ON THE YOUNG.

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