XN000022-1994-12-14 — Page 78

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Youth drug abuse

Following is a question by the Hon Fung Chi-wood and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Alistair Asprey, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is reported that thinner sniffing among teenagers has become a serious problem in recent years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

whether the problem of thinner sniffing among teenagers in Tai Po has deteriorated; if so, what are the causes leading to such a situation;

what measures will be taken by various government departments, including the Police, the Education Department and the Social Welfare Department, to tackle the situation; and

whether the Government will consider deploying one additional outreaching social work team to serve in the Tai Po district to help resolve this difficult problem?

No cases related to thinner sniffing among teenagers have been reported to the Police in Tai Po Police. We are aware that some social workers in Tai Po have come across individual cases of thinner sniffing, but information on the extent and trend of the problem in Tai Po is limited. Reports to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse indicate that the number of young people involved in solvent abuse remains small in Hong Kong. In 1992 there were 27 reports throughout Hong Kong involving people under 21; in 1993 there were 20, and in the first half of 1994 there were 15. As for the causes of drug abuse by young persons, surveys have shown that curiosity and peer pressure are the two major factors.

The principal measure to reduce solvent abuse is publicity and preventive education directed against substance abuse in general. Solvents are covered in the regular talks given by Narcotics Division to secondary school students and featured in their educational booklet, leaflet and poster.