XN000022-1994-06-15 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1994

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MOTION DEBATE ON DRUG ABUSE BY ADOLESCENTS

FOLLOWING IS THE SPRECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON DRUG ABUSE BY ADOLESCENTS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

MR IN

DRUG ABUSE IS A PROBLEM WHICH HAS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS. THE GOVERNMENT ADOPTS A MULTI-FACETED APPROACH TO COMBAT THIS PROBLEM, AIMED AT REDUCING BOTH THE SUPPLY AND THE DEMAND FOR DRUGS. VIGOROUS LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION IS TAKEN ΤΟ REDUCE THE SUPPLY OF ILLICIT DRUGS. MEASURES TO REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR DRUGS INCLUDE PREVENTIVE EDUCATION PUBLICITY, AND TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES.

BEFORE I DESCRIBE WHAT "HE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DOING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO OUTLINE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. IN 1993, JUST OVER 3,000 YOUNG DRUG ABUSERS AGED UNDER 21 WERE REPORTED TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE. THIS NUMBER IS ONLY ABOUT ONE THIRD OF ONE PER CENT OF THE POPULATION AGED BETWEEN 1 AND 20. SO, BY AND LARGE, OUR YOUTH STAYS AWAY FROM ILLICIT DRUGS. HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT COMPLACENT ABOUT IN

THIS. ON THE CONTRARY, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASING TREND THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE REFORTED TO THE REGISTRY. THE NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME REPORTED YOUNG DRUG ABUSERS ROSE BY 50 PER CENT FROM 1992 TO 1993.

THE

OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF YOUNG DRUG ABUSERS TAKE HEROIN. MAJORITY OF THE OTHERS ABUSE CANNABIS, OR COUGH MEDICINE. FEW ABUSE OTHER PRESCRIBED MEDICINES WHICH DOES NOT MEAN WE DO, OR SHOULD IGNORE THE PROBLEM.

AS REGARDS EXISTING LEGISLATION CONTROLS ON DRUGS, THE ILLEGAL SUPPLY OF DANGEROUS DRUGS IS A FELONY AND IS ALREADY SUBJECT TO HEAVY PENALTIES UNDER OUR LEGISLATION. THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE STIPULATES STRICT CONTROLS ON THE SUPPLY OF DANGEROUS DRUGS. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND AUTHORISED SELLERS OF POISONS, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS PHARMACIES, HAVE TO COMPLY WITH STRICT REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING THE PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY OF DANGEROUS DRUGS. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS MAY SUPPLY A DANGEROUS DRUG IN BONA FIDE CONSULTATIONS. THOSE SUPPLYING OR PRESCRIBING DANGEROUS DRUGS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO MAINTAIN COMPLETE RECORDS OF PURCHAST AND SUPPLY. PHARMACIES MAY SUPPLY DANGEROUS DRUGS BY PRESCRIPTION ONLY UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A REGISTERED PHARMACIST. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A REGISTER OF THE DRUGS SUPPLIED. FORENSIC PHARMACISTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULARLY INSPECT PHARMACIES AND AUDIT THEIR STOCK OF DANGEROUS DRUGS AGAINST RECORDS OF PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY.

FOR

THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE, IN ADDITION, PROVIDES CONTROL OVER THE SUPPLY OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS. THE RETAIL SALE OF POISONS AND DRUGS BY AUTHORISED AND LISTED SELLERS IS REGULATED BY THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD. DRUGS ARE CLASSIFIED INTO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES UNDER THE ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RETAIL SALE. AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONTROL APPLY TO THEM.

/IN GENERAL,