XN000022-1993-02-17 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1993

GOVT ALL OUT TO CURB DRUG PROBLEM AMONG YOUTH

THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A HIGH-RISK GROUP IN DRUG PROBLEMS, AND THEY ARE THE MAIN TARGET OF THE ANTI-DRUG EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES.

THIS WAS STATED

BY

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG MAN-KWONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

A MAJOR ELEMENT OF THESE PROGRAMMES IS THE DRUG EDUCATION SCHOOL TALKS CONDUCTED BY THE NARCOTICS DIVISION IN ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS, BOYS AND GIRLS HOMES AND YOUTH ORGANISATIONS.

THE TALKS PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE AND THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES AND DANGERS OF INVOLVEMENT IN DRUG OFFENCES, MR ASPREY SAID.

THE SECRETARY SAID IT WAS PLANNED TO EXTEND THESE SCHOOL TALKS TO ALL PRIMARY 6 STUDENTS IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.

THE GOVERNMENT ALSO AIMS TO DISSEMINATE THE ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND TO PARENTS IN PARTICULAR,

THE WAYS INCLUDED:

A

PILOT PARENTS;

SCHEME ΤΟ INTRODUCE DRUG BDUCATION TALKS ΤΟ

WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS FOR STUDENT TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS:

ANTI-DRUG ACTIVITIES JOINTLY ORGANISED BY DISTRICT BOARDS

AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES;

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AN ANNUAL DRUG WISE CAMP" ORGANISED BY THE POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS BUREAU, THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND

REHABILITATION OF DRUG ABUSFRS.

APART FROM PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO DETER YOUNG PEOPLE FROM DRUG ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING, MR ASPREY SAID.

THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT TAKE VIGOROUS ACTION TO COUNTER DRUG TRAFFICKING BOTH AT THE REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVEL, AND HAVE ACHIEVED POSITIVE RESULTS EN APPREHENDING AND PROSECUTING MORE DRUG OFFENDERS, HE SAID.

"WE HOPE THAT THE INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR THE OFFENCE OF POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUG, INTRODUCED LAST JUNE, WILL. HAVE A DETERRENT EFFECT ON YOUNG PEOPLE, MR ASPREY SAID.

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HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ENCOURAGED THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO UNFORTUNATELY BECAME VICTIMS OF HEROIN ΤΟ PARTICIPATE IN THE VOLUNTARY DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMMES, LIKE THE METHADONE TREATMENT PROGRAMME OR THE IN-PATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMME OPERATED BY THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ABUSERS.

/HE SAID