XN000022-1995-12-13 — Page 40

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The District Social Welfare Office (DSWO) in Kwun Tong has formed a Working Group on "District-wide publicity campaign in combating illicit use of drugs among young people in Kwun Tong District" in April 1995, to promote co-ordination and co-operation among government departments and local organisations to tackle the drug problem. A "Drug-Ambassador Scheme" is now being launched by the Working Group, with the aim of publicising widely anti-drug messages among young people through a signature campaign. So far over 7,000 participants from more than 30 local organisations have been enrolled. The Working Group also compiles leaflets on district beat-drug activities on a regular basis to encourage participation of local residents.

In the longer term, the DSWO in Kwun Tong will continue to take active part in the Kwun Tong District Fight Crime Committee to plan and co-ordinate anti-drug strategies at the district level. Group work units in the district, particularly the Group Work Unit of the Kwun Tong Community Centre (which is located in Tsui Ping Estate) will organise regular activities to educate young people to stay away from drugs. Services from the "Against Substance Abuse Scheme" provided by the team of specially trained social workers newly set up by the Social Welfare Department would also be tapped whenever necessary.

A paper on "Illicit use of drugs in Kwun Tong District" was discussed at the Kwun Tong District Fight Crime Committee meeting in May 1995 to co-ordinate district efforts in tackling the problem. Local Non-Government Organisations will be encouraged to organise anti-drug activities through various channels such as the Kwun Tong District Committee on Family Life Education, the Kwun Tong District Group and Community Work Service Co-ordinating Committee. Social workers of the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers working in the methadone clinic in the district will continue to provide casework services to drug abusers to facilitate their social rehabilitation.

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