THE
Headlines
NEWS ON DRUGS ABUSE
DRUGS ABUSE !
NEWS
History of Drugs Abuse
A Long History in the World:
A Long History in China
• Opium taking activities recorded
since Ming Dynasty
• Emperor of Ming Dynasty
attempted to prohibit drug taking
activities
• Opium War breaking out during
late 1830s and 1840s
NEWS
Opium Trade and Drug Policies in Hong Kong
Permitted sale of opium under government
monopoly with opium smoking remaining
free and legal until 1945
the issue of White Paper – “ The Problem of
Narcotic Drugs in Hong Kong” in 1959,
followed by the setting up of the Narcotics
Advisory Committee the same year
The Reconstitution of Action Committee
Against Narcotics (ACAN) in 1973 for
becoming the sole source of advice to the
Government on all aspects of its antinarcotics problem
The Creation of the Post of Commissioner
for Narcotics in 1973
NEWS
Population of Drug Abusers
In the World
According to the World Drug
Report 2004 by United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC), it is estimated that in
2001-03, there were about 185
million people abusing drugs,
accounting for about 4.7% of the
global population aged 15 to 64.
NEWS
In Hong Kong
It was generally estimated that there were about
50,000 to 100,000 drug abusers in Hong Kong.
With the establishment of Central Registry of
Drug Abuse (CRDA) in Hong Kong in 1972,
recorded number of drug abusers in Hong Kong
was found to be 50,000 up to early 1990s
With the change of reporting system by
Government in mid 90s that only yearly reported
figures of drug abusers were issued, it was found
that the figures remain in the range of 13,000 to
20,000 per year
In 2003, there were 15,605 drug abusers made
known to CRDA, with 4,303 being newly reported
persons
NEWS
Definition of Drug (Substance) Abuse
Dependence on certain kind(s) of
drugs or substances with the following
characteristics:
•Excessive use resulting in over-dose
•Harmful to health
•Not accepted by the norms and values
of the society
NEWS
Kinds of Substances Liable to Abuse
in Hong Kong
Narcotic Drugs
Opium, Heroin, Morphine, Physeptone, Methadone
Hallucinogens
Cannabis, LSD
Depressants
Barbiturates, Mandrax
Stimulants
Amphetamine type of stimulants, e.g.
Methylamphetamine (Ice), cocaine, MDMA
(Ecstasy)
Tranquilizers
Diazepam, midazolam, triazolam, Zoplicone
Others
Ketamine, Cough Medicine, Codeine, Organic
Solvents, Alcohol, Tobacco
NEWS
Methods of Taking Drugs
Heroin
•By cigarettes ends
•By “chasing dragon”
•By injection
Psychotropic Substances
•By oral taking
•By sniffing (snorting)
•By injection
NEWS
Reasons for Initiation to Substances Abuse
•Peer influence / To identify with peers
•Curiosity
•Seeking euphoria or sensory satisfaction
•Relief of boredom, depression and
anxiety
•Unemployment
•Medical reasons
NEWS
Symptoms / Effects of Substance Abuse
•Strange behaviours - repetitive peculiar acts
•Trying to be alone, keeping away from family
members and their activities such as shutting himself in
the room or spending lengthy time in toilet, etc.
•Disorder in daily activities, e.g. sleep disorder
•Depressed appearance, e.g. looking pale and tired, loss
of appetite, unable to concentrate his mind in work,
loss of memory
•Other unusual performance such as impaired
judgment, slurred speech, insomnia, in-coordination of
fingers and limbs, etc.
•Possession of unusual and unnecessary articles, such
as empty soft-drink box or bottle, lighter, tin-foil paper,
small medicine bags, etc.
NEWS
Harmfulness of Substance Abuse
Personal Aspects
Weak and deteriorated health
Organs damage like liver and kidney
damage, respiratory and heart problems,
toxic neurologic damage, etc.
Low motivation and lack of achievement
desire
Loss of interests in work or study
NEWS
Family Aspects
•Bad and unharmonious family
relationships
•Financial hardships to family
•Deprivation of opportunities of young
generation in education, career and other
social activities
NEWS
Society Aspects
The society will suffer from having to
spend more in the following public
sectors such as Medical, Educational,
Social Welfare, Labour, Law and
Order, etc. with less productivity in
industrial and commercial sectors
NEWS
Recent Trend and Drug Scene in Hong Kong
More young people involving in
psychotropic substance abuse
According to CRDA, the figure of 1,053
persons involving in psychotropic
substance abuse in 1991 rose to 6,022
persons in 2001, representing 470 %
increase.
More females involving in substance
abuse
According to CRDA, the figure of 693
female cases involving in substance abuse
in 1980, rose to 3,182 cases in 2002,
representing 360 % increase.
NEWS
More young people involving in multiple drug
abuse
During the period 1995 and 2001, the trend for
abusing more than one type of drugs was rising,
from 1,185 in 1995 to 3,247 in 2001.
The proportion of multiple drug abusers has been
increasing since 1995, from 6.6 % in 1995 to 20.9
% in 2003.
19.4 % of the individuals reported to CRDA in
2002 were found abusing more than one type of
drug, with 40.2 % of the newly reported persons
aged under 21 abusing multiple drugs in the same
year.
NEWS
Existing Substance Abuse Treatment and
Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong
Compulsory and statutory treatment
Drug Addiction Treatment Centres operated by CSD
Voluntary treatment
•In-patient (residential) treatment
•Social work approach, e.g. Shek Kwu Chau
Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre operated by
SARDA, etc.
•Religious Approach
•Substance Abuse Clinic
•Out-patient treatment
•Casework and counselling Service at
Counselling Centre
•Substance Abuse Clinic
•Methadone Treatment Programme
NEWS
Effective Ways of Tackling Substance Abuse
No single way of solving the problems,
instead combination of efforts and
approaches should be adopted:
•Legislation and Law Enforcement
•Punishment through punitive system
•Treatment and Rehabilitation
•Preventive education and publicity
•International Cooperation
NEWS
Issues for Contemplation and Discussion
Could a drug-free community or society
be realized?
If yes, how?
If no, why?
Is heavy punishment an effective
deterrent to substance abuse?
If yes, how?
If no, why?