ENG-2010 — Page 388

326 Public Order

Efforts were made through such channels as mobile phones and the Internet to engage young people. A 'Beat Drugs Fund' subsidised projects which reach out to young people and at-risk youths through social media platforms, forums and blogs.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre continued to serve as a platform for promoting anti-drug messages. In 2010, it received 42 000 visitors, which included students, youth groups, district bodies, community organisations, overseas delegations, parent-teacher associations, uniformed groups, and other community organisations.

Drug Abuse, Statistics and Trends

Statistics on drug abuse are compiled by the Central Registry of Drug Abuse. It collates information about drug abusers obtained from a wide network of reporting agencies, including law enforcement departments, youth outreaching teams, treatment and rehabilitation agencies, hospitals and clinics.

In 2010, some 12 420 drug abusers were recorded in the registry, of which 30 per cent were new cases, 22 per cent were aged under 21, and 80 per cent were males. Heroin continued to be the most commonly abused drug in Hong Kong, with 50 per cent of drug abusers recorded in the registry being heroin abusers. The proportion of psychotropic substance abusers among all reported drug abusers has grown greatly over the years, reaching 61 per cent in 2010. Ninety-eight per cent of reported drug abusers under the age of 21 abused psychotropic substances. Commonly abused psychotropic substances by all age groups included ketamine (36 per cent), ice (13 per cent) and triazolam/midazolam/zopiclone (10 per cent). In 2010, about 23 per cent of drug abusers were reported to have abused more than one drug.

Some 9 per cent of drug abusers were reported to have taken drugs in the Mainland, mostly in Shenzhen. Forty-five per cent were reported to have taken drugs. only in their own homes or in friends' homes, another 34 per cent at both homes and other places such as recreation areas, public gardens, public toilets and discos or karaoke halls. The remaining 20 per cent took drugs wherever convenient.

Research

Findings from drug-related research studies provide useful evidence-based references for the Government's formulation of anti-drug strategies and programmes. The year saw completion of the '2008-09 Survey of Drug Use among Students' which covered students from upper primary to university. The proportion of secondary students who had ever used drugs in their lifetime increased from 3.3 per cent in 2004-05 to 4.3 per cent in 2008-09. The corresponding proportions of upper primary, undergraduate and other post-secondary students, as surveyed for the first time in 2008-09, were 1.6 per cent, 2.9 per cent and 5.4 per cent respectively.

The survey also provided valuable information on characteristics of drug-taking students, students' attitudes towards and knowledge of drug abuse, and other