ENG-2001 — Page 428

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multimedia exhibits and interactive games to disseminate anti-drug messages. The exhibition hall is scheduled for completion in 2003.

The quarterly DIC Newsletter continued to provide up-to-date information on drugs and InfoCentre activities. The newsletter is distributed to DIC members, government departments, and individual and corporate volunteers to publicise the resources and facilities available at the centre.

To encourage district and community groups to organise more anti-drug functions, funding has continued to be provided through the Community Against Drugs Scheme. During the year, the scheme allocated $500,000 to support 18 projects organised by District Fight Crime Committees, schools and community groups. Apart from providing funding support, the Narcotics Division participated in a number of anti-drug events held by different community organisations, including a day camp organised by the Hong Kong Adventure Corps, the Student Health Ambassador Scheme project, two training camps for the Green Project (which was aimed at steering youth-at-risk away from crime and drug abuse), and an Anti-drug and District Fight Crime Exhibition held in Kwai Chung District. At these events, anti-drug talks were given and pamphlets distributed.

To keep the anti-drug professionals abreast of the latest drug abuse trends and the Government's corresponding strategies in tackling the problem, an annual seminar was held jointly by the ACAN and the Social Welfare Department in March. The seminar was attended by some 220 in-service social workers, undergraduates in the social work field and teaching staff of tertiary institutions.

The ACAN Volunteer Group, following its revamping, was expanded to include both individual and corporate volunteers. At the end of the year, 249 individual and 79 corporate volunteers had registered with the scheme. Individual volunteers took part in various anti-drug community involvement and publicity activities, such as district carnivals, exhibitions, conferences and visits to drug treatment centres. From October to December, volunteers also gave assistance in manning the Internet ‘chat room' set up for the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau Conference on Policy to Tackle Drug Abuse and Trafficking. Corporate volunteers helped to distribute various drug-related publications and anti-drug publicity materials to members of their organisations.

The ACAN's Anti-drug Abuse Hotline (2366 8822) received 30 607 calls during the year. It provides useful information on law enforcement, commonly abused drugs and their harmful effects, anti-drug education and publicity, drug treatment and rehabilitation services, and financial sponsorship in organising drug-related projects.

Drug Abuse

Statistics on drug abuse are supplied by the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA). Information of drug abusers is collated by the Registry through a wide network of reporting agencies, including law enforcement departments, treatment and welfare agencies, hospitals and clinics. In 2001, about 18 000 drug abusers were reported to the Registry. Of these, 30 per cent were newly reported cases, 21 per cent were aged under 21 and 85 per cent were male. The proportion of drug abusers in the population remained relatively small at about three per thousand.

Heroin was the most common drug of abuse in Hong Kong. It was abused by 71 per cent of the persons reported to the Registry. In comparison with the past, a larger