ENG-2014 — Page 331

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Public Order

To encourage drug abusers to seek help early and highlight the availability of help channels, anti-drug messages were promoted through television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest, a video-sharing website, and advertisements on mobile, online communication platforms and websites.

The ND's '186 186' anti-drug 24-hour hotline introduced a new help-seeking feature through instant messaging '98 186 186' manned by professional social workers as an additional channel for people with drug problems to seek help early. Where necessary, cases are referred to non- governmental organisations (NGOs) for treatment and rehabilitation services.

The ND also continued to work with the Education Bureau to provide support for schools to conduct drug education programmes for students and provide structured professional training for school personnel to equip them with drug knowledge and skills to identify and offer early assistance to at-risk students.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre (DIC) continued to be a focal point for promoting anti-drug education and programmes. In 2014, it received 44,561 visitors, including students, youth groups, district bodies, community organisations, overseas delegations, parent-teacher associations and uniformed groups. DIC's new anti-drug web portal was also launched.

Drug Testing

The Healthy School Programme with a voluntary drug testing component is a school-based preventive education programme designed to strengthen students' resolve to refuse drugs and to foster a drug-free campus. In 2014-15, 71 secondary schools, partnered with 17 NGOs, implemented the programme.

The first stage of ACAN's public consultation on the RESCUE Drug Testing Scheme (RDT) was completed in January and the consultation conclusion announced in July 2014. The government is laying the ground work for a second stage of consultation. The RDT's objective is to identify drug abusers as early as possible so that they can receive counselling and treatment in a timely manner.

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 39 centres, a voluntary methadone outpatient treatment programme operated by the Department of Health, substance abuse clinics at all seven hospital clusters of the Hospital Authority, 11 counselling centres for psychotropic substance abusers run by NGOs, and two centres for drug counselling.

In 2014, the ND started to prepare the 'Three-year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong (2015-17)' to set out the priorities and strategies for treatment and rehabilitation services for the coming three years, and provide direction for service providers in the anti-drug field to review and develop their action plans and programmes.

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