TNAG-0690-FCO40-839-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 85

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mostly by foreigners.

Amphetamines are often taken in combination with barbiturates and with benzodiazepines. as are Librium and Valium.

Cannabis is commonly abused with alcohol

47. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The annual report gives estimates derived from extrapolations from the annual National Survey on Drug Abuse as well as from treatment information, law enforcement data, narcotic registries and others. According to this report the extent and pattern of drug abuse are as follows:

The

Amphetamines: 1 590 000 abusers of which 88.9 per cent take them orally; 9.7 per cent by injection; 0.4 per cent by smoking; 1 per cent intranasal. paranoia produced by intraveneous injection of these drugs can cause violent behaviour and criminal acts. Barbiturates: 1 070 000 abusers of which 99 per cent take them orally; 0.9 per cent by injection and 0.1 per cent intranasal. Over doses treated in emergency rooms,

deaths and serious crimes may be related to the use of these drugs. Cannabis: 12 380 000 abusers of which 88.2 per cent smoke it; 8.8 per cent take it orally; 0.7 per cent by injection and 2.3 per cent intranasal. Acute psychosocial reactions may occur in association with the use of cannabis. Hallucinogens: 1 129 000 abusers of which 81.3 per cent take them orally; 12.6 per cent smoke them; 3.2 per cent intranasal; 2.9 per cent by injection. Panic reactions, psychotic episodes or depressive reactions may occur due to hallucinogen use. Cocaine: 1 188 000 abusers of which 73.5 per cent intranasal, 23.7 per cent by injection, 2.1 per cent orally and 0.7 per cent smoke it. Severe psychological reactions may occur as well as erratic and violent behaviour. Heroin: 530 000 abusers of which 95.5 per cent by injection; 3.5 per cent intranasal; 0.9 per cent orally and 0.1 per cent by smoking. of opiates may cause overdoses, deaths, hepatitis, serious crime, family disruption and high social cost.

Abuse

48. Cannabis is most commonly used alone or with alcohol. Heroin is used with cannabis or cocaine. For young people in the 12-17 age group, the most commonly encountered illicit drugs are cannabis, hallucinogens and opiates (but not heroin). For adults, the most commonly encountered drugs are cannabis, amphetamines and barbiturates. The social cost of drug abuse in the United States is estimated at 10 to 17 billion dollars a year for direct programme costs, health care costs, property losses attributable to drug related theft and loss of job productivity.

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49. VENEZUELA Acceptance of cocaine is a matter of concern for the authorities. Abuse of cannabis has also been observed.

50. ANTIGUA

Cannabis is smoked or used for making tea. It is cultivated in flower pets but also in small areas of vegetable cultivation.

Some groups cultivate cannabis for their own use. Most of the persons taking cannabis are unemployed and belong to the 17-30 age group. The number of persons treated at the mental hospital for cannabis abuse has increased in recent years. Also the amount of cannabis seized as well as the number of prosecutions for cannabis offences augmented.

51. BELIZE

Cannabis is indigenous and grows very easily in any part of the territory. It is cultivated by different ethnic groups. There has been an increase in the number of prosecutions for cannabis possession (52 in 1973, 100 in 1975).