XN000022-1996-03-26 — Page 8

-

7

Drug controls proposals endorsed

*

Members of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) at a meeting today (Tuesday) endorsed the Government's proposal to tighten the statutory controls on the acquisition and the supply of dangerous drugs.

The Administration had proposed amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Regulations to tighten the record-keeping requirements on the acquisition and supply of dangerous drugs by authorised persons.

In the proposal, it was also suggested to increase the fine for offences in contravention of the record-keeping requirements from $50,000 to $450,000.

Members discussed the vetting procedures and the funding criteria for the $350 million Beat Drugs Fund which is to be established next month. The Fund will provide funding support to worthwhile projects which can help reduce the drug abuse problem.

Drug statistics for the fourth quarter of 1995 were also tabled and discussed at the meeting.

Members noted that the figures of young drug abusers in the fourth quarter of 1995 continued to decline following the previous three quarters.

The number of drug abusers under 21 reported to the Government's Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) decreased by 24.1 per cent to 1,152 in the fourth quarter of 1995, as compared to 1,518 in the corresponding period in 1994.

Of them, 424 were reported to CRDA for the first time, representing a drop of 29.8 per cent from 604 in the fourth quarter in 1994. A decrease of 20.4 per cent was also noted for previously reported young drug abusers from 914 in the fourth quarter of 1994 to 728 in the same period of 1995.

The number of drug abusers of all ages in the fourth quarter of 1995 registered a decrease of 14.3 per cent to 6,912 from 8.064 in the same period of 1994. The numbers of newly reported persons and previously reported persons were down by 17 per cent (from 1,129 to 937) and 13.8 per cent (from 6,935 to 5,975) respectively.

The percentage of female drug abusers of all ages increased slightly from 10.6 per cent (856) to 11.5 cent (798). For those under 21, an increase of 5 percentage points from 22.3 per cent (339) to 27.3 per cent (314) was noted.