ENG-2011 — Page 383

Public Order | 331

practical skills to identify and offer assistance early to at-risk students. The ND also continued to commission non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to conduct drug education programmes for students at Primary Three and above in local primary and international schools.

A series of measures was implemented to enhance support services for parents, including district-based parent seminars, train-the-trainer sessions, on-line discussion platform for parents, in-depth programmes for social workers, publication of anti- drug educational materials, and telephone support service manned by social workers through the ND's telephone service '186 186'.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre continued to be a platform for promoting anti-drug education. In 2011, it received 35 000 visitors, including students, youth groups, district bodies, community organisations, overseas delegations, parent-teacher associations and uniformed groups.

Drug Testing

With the successful completion of the 'Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing' in Tai Po District in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, the Government started to encourage other schools to pursue the Healthy School Programme with a drug testing component (HSP(DT)) as a preventive measure. In the school year 2011-12, more than 40 secondary schools introduced the programme.

The Government Laboratory obtained accreditation for its hair drug testing technology. It provided free hair drug testing services to NGOs.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

A variety of treatment and rehabilitation services is available to drug abusers with different needs. The major services include a compulsory drug treatment programme run by the Correctional Services Department, 40 voluntary residential programmes run by the NGOs, a voluntary methadone outpatient treatment programme operated by the DH, substance abuse clinics at all seven hospital clusters of the Hospital Authority, as well as 11 counselling centres for psychotropic substance abusers run by the NGOs.

The Government provided additional resources to increase the manpower of school social work services by 20 per cent in 2011 for carrying out focused anti-drug work at schools. The ND also continued to work closely with stakeholders to implement a fifth three-year plan on drug treatment and rehabilitation services covering 2009 to 2011. Its key recommendations included strengthening collaboration of various service modes across different disciplines, provision of training for anti-drug workers and enhancing treatment and rehabilitation programmes in terms of capacity and sophistication.

Legislation and Enforcement

The ND and relevant departments monitor closely the changing drug scene. Existing laws are reviewed regularly to cope with any emerging threat. In 2011, the ND took forward a legislative exercise to bring three types of synthetic substances (i.e. derivatives of piperazine, synthetic cannabinoids and derivatives of cathinon)