XN000022-1994-12-05 — Page 2

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Joint effort to halt growing trend of drug abuse

Governments, non-government organisations (NGOs), schools and families all have to work together in mutual support to address effectively the manifold problems related to drug abuse, the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, said today (Monday).

Non-government

Speaking at the 15th International Federation of Organisations Conference for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse today, the Governor said: "The nature of the problem we face is growing. Since 1989 in Hong Kong we have seen a persistent and worrying increase in drug abuse by those under 21."

The number of reported drug abusers rose by only 15 per cent overall between 1989 and 1993, to around 17,500, the number under the age of 21 increased by 147 per cent, to over 3,000. Over 50 per cent of newly reported cases are young people.

The Governor noted that comparing with other cities, the drug problem in Hong Kong was not as serious as that in many other cities, but improvement was still needed in some aspects, like the coverage and efficiency of drug education; the detection and strengthening of international co-operation; and the establishments of more treatment facilities to meet the demand.

Mr Patten said actions had been taken in the areas of treatment, enforcement and education.

On the treatment side, the Governor listed a number of measures to help the young drug abusers, such as to set up a separate treatment facilities for them; to strengthen the local networks among social service units; to provide more training programmes for front line social workers and to develop programmes to encourage greater parental support.

The Hospital Authority's treatment services for psychotropic substance abusers will also be expanded.

A new counselling centre in the New Territories Region for young abusers and two more residential treatment centres for young opiate abusers will also be established, he added.