The overall number of drug abusers reported to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse in the first quarter fell 4% to 5,095, compared with 5,310 in the same period last year.

Briefing Action Committee Against Narcotics members today, Commissioner for Narcotics Rosanna Ure said compared with the first quarter of 2003, the overall number of newly reported drug abusers fell 18.3%, from 1,065 to 870. But the number of reported drug abusers under 21 rose to 797 from 668. The number of newly reported drug abusers under 21 also rose, from 421 to 429.

"Youngsters will continue to be the main target of our anti-drug publicity initiatives in 2004-05. Emphasis will be on encouraging them to understand the harmful effects of drugs, and to make use of peer influence to sway friends to make the correct decision of refusing drugs," Mrs Ure said.

Clarifying the misconception that psychotropic substances were not addictive and that their abuse was less harmful would also be the emphasis of preventive education and publicity programmes this year.

"Our anti-drug education and publicity will further be strengthened with the opening of the Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre later this month," Mrs Ure said.

As Hong Kong's first exhibition centre on drug education, the centre will be a platform for teachers, parents and anti-drug workers to collaborate in the fight against abuse. It will guide youngsters away from drugs.

To complement the Government's educational efforts, the Narcotics Division has produced a new television and radio announcement to be broadcast from mid-June. A poster carrying the same theme has also been produced and distributed to schools, tertiary institutes, housing estates, shopping malls, youth centres, hospitals and clinics, and anti-drug organisations.

Heroin and ketamine most abused

The most commonly abused drugs in all age groups were heroin (72.1%), ketamine (17.9%), triazolam/midazolam (9.5%) and ecstasy (7.2%), while those commonly abused by people under 21 were ketamine (74.7%), ecstasy (34.1%) and cannabis (18.3%).

Reported heroin abusers fell from 3,792 in the first quarter of 2003 to 3,612 this year. However, reported ketamine abusers rose from 454 to 896, and triazolam/midazolam abusers were up from 388 to 478.

Ketamine abusers under 21 rose from 323 to 581, and ecstasy abusers rose from 228 to 265, but cannabis abusers fell from 200 to 142. The overall number of multiple drug abusers rose from 806 to 958.

The most common combination of drugs abused is heroin and triazolam/midazolam (334), and ketamine and ecstasy (215).

"Vigorous enforcement action taken by Police and the Customs & Excise Department, as well as the heightened awareness of the public to seek intervention or counselling services, resulting from enhanced publicity, may have contributed to the rise in the reported number of abusers," Mrs Ure said.

"In view of the increase in the number of ketamine abusers among youths, the dire consequences of ketamine abuse has been highlighted in anti-drug education talks delivered to students by both the Narcotics Division and the Police since 2003."

Publicity materials stressing the harmful effects of ketamine were also produced in 2003. Examples of publicity material carrying this theme are MTR and KCR advertisements, and leaflets sent out with electricity bills.

"The Government will continue to give high priority to steering youngsters away from drugs, and collaborate with non-government organisations and the community at large in the battle against drugs," Mrs Ure said.