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Although the number of drug abusers remained steady at 4,649 in the first quarter of this year, ketamine abusers rose 36.9% to 1,184, the Action Committee Against Narcotics says.
At its quarterly meeting today, the committee said 64.6% of the ketamine abusers were aged under 21. Although the number of drug abusers aged 21 and over was 3.2% lower, the number of young drug abusers under 21 was 10.1% higher than that for the same period of 2006.
Heroin remained the most popular type of drugs abused. The total number of abusers was 9.5% lower than that of the same period of 2006. The number of ecstasy abusers fell 48.5% to 331.
Drug abuse in schools
Committee members expressed serious concern over the recent case of students suspected of abusing drugs in school.
They noted that the liaison between schools and the Police will be strengthened. Training for teachers and social workers on how to identify and deal with drug problems in school will be enhanced. Parents will also be engaged to play an active role in drug prevention, and publicity targeting the youth will be intensified.
Commissioner for Narcotics Sally Wong said a series of activities to spread anti-drug messages will be rolled out during the summer holidays.
An anti-drug mobile phone game will be launched mid-July and a new drug education kit will be introduced in schools. The kit is designed for use by Primary 4, 5 and 6 for the curriculum of General Studies, and Secondary School Forms one to three for the curriculum of Liberal Studies. A parent seminar will be held on June 23 to equip parents with basic drug knowledge, as well as skills to handle drug-related problems.
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