There are no indications that the number of young drug abusers has risen more significantly in North District, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says, adding the district situation will be considered when drawing up anti-drug measures.

He told lawmakers today the number of young drug abusers in this year's first quarter rose 10% from a year earlier to 994. Last year's total of 2,549 also represented a 12%-surge on 2005.

"The information reveals that although the total number of abusers has been decreasing, the number of young abusers in the past two years reversed the declining trend of 2000 to 2004 and began to rise. We are very concerned about the situation and have taken various measures in response," he said.

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely, tap the views of the Action Committee Against Narcotics, anti-drug workers and the public, and enhance our partnership with various sectors of the community, including schools, parents, social workers, medical workers, academia and the media in the fight against drugs."

District figures

Yuen Long recorded 147 young drug abusers in this year's first quarter, up 93% on last year. Southern and North Districts saw 138 and 104 young drug abusers, up 42% and down 24%. More details are available here.

"Currently there are no indications that the number of young drug abusers has risen more significantly in North District and other districts along the railway than in other districts. However, we agree that when drawing up anti-drug measures, we should take into account the district situation as far as possible. We have therefore taken a series of measures to combat the youth drug abuse problem in collaboration with the district councils, district fight crime committees and district organisations."

The Beat Drugs Fund has provided support to a research study on the abuse pattern of abusers in the New Territories East, including North District, using the latest technology. Individual districts have conducted surveys on the youth drug abuse situation, youngsters' attitude and knowledge of drugs and service needs.

Mental health

On the mental health problems of children and youths, Mr Lee noted the number of patients within the age groups of six to 12 and 13 to 19 has increased in recent years. In 2006-07 there were 4,840 youngsters aged six to 12 and 4,673 aged 13 to 19 seen by Hospital Authority specialists on child and adolescent psychiatry, up 11.8% and 5.6% from a year earlier.

"This can be attributed to new programmes on child and adolescent mental health services, for example the Early Assessment Service for Young People with Psychosis offered by the Hospital Authority and Social Welfare Department. These programmes facilitate the early identification of mental illness suffered by children and adolescents, so as to allow early intervention by parents and social workers and referrals of those in need of medical attention to the authority for follow-up by specialists on child and adolescent psychiatry," Mr Lee said.

To facilitate the early identification of mild to moderate mental health problems of children and adolescents to enable the provision of appropriate intervention services, the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Community Support Project was launched in late 2005.

It started full operation in April last year. As at March 31 the project had handled 686 cases, including counselling and consultation cases, and organised 127 public education functions on child and adolescent mental health, providing schools, youth centres and other community bodies with consultation services and training.