ENG-2012 — Page 332

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Public Order

education initiative with voluntary drug testing. In 2012-13, 53 schools and 14 NGOs volunteered to implement the programme.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

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

In June 2012, the ND published the 'Sixth Three-year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong, setting out key recommendations for the development of these services between 2012 and 2014. Major areas covered include early identification and assistance to drug abusers, strengthening service collaboration across different disciplines, enhancing the capacity and sophistication of treatment and rehabilitation programmes, reintegration into society through multiple pathways (including education, vocational training and job placement), prevention of relapse, and sustained service improvement. The plan emphasises the importance of ensuring that treatment and rehabilitation measures complement other elements of the anti-drug strategy.

Legislation and Enforcement

The ND and relevant departments closely monitor the changing drug scene and regularly review existing laws to meet any emerging threat. In 2012, three substances (Gamma- butyrolactone (GBL), Salvia divinorum and Salvinorin-A) were added to Part I of the First Schedule of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance to deter their trafficking and abuse.

The Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and the DH continued to take action against drug crimes and 1,588 kilograms and 21,529 tablets of dangerous drugs were seized in 2012 and 5,825 persons were arrested for drug-related offences.

Drug Abuse, Statistics and Trends

The Central Registry of Drug Abuse compiles statistics on drug abuse, collating information about drug abusers from a wide network of reporting agencies, including law enforcement departments, youth outreaching teams, treatment and rehabilitation agencies, hospitals and clinics.

In 2012, some 10,939 drug abusers were recorded in the registry, of which 26 per cent were new cases, 15 per cent were aged under 21, and 81 per cent were males. Heroin continued to be the most commonly abused drug in Hong Kong, with 53 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 59 per cent in 2012, and 97 per cent of reported drug abusers under the age of 21 abused psychotropic substances. Commonly abused psychotropic substances by all age groups included ketamine (29 per cent), ice (15 per cent) and triazolam/midazolam/zopiclone (11 per cent). In 2012, about 22 per cent of drug abusers were reported to have abused more than one drug.

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