Drug fighters: Commissioner for Narcotics Sally Wong visits the Kowloon East Substance Abuse Clinic.

There were 2,729 drug abusers under 21 reported in the first three quarters of this year, up 18% on the same period last year, according to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse.

Continuing the trend since the end of 2007, the total number of psychotropic substance abusers (6,478) was higher than those taking heroin (6,127).

Ketamine remained the most common type of psychotropic substance abused. The number of ketamine abusers rose 27.2 % to 3,939. Of them, 58.9% were aged under 21.

Festive appeal

Visiting the Kowloon East Substance Abuse Clinic today, Commissioner for Narcotics Sally Wong urged youths to stay away from drugs during the Christmas and New Year holiday. She also called for better communication between parents and their children.

Narcotics Division will enhance publicity during the festive season. Advertisements will be placed in online forums frequently visited by young people. It will also promote the anti-drug campaign theme song through mobile phone SMS, karaoke groups and popular video-sharing websites.

Other publicity measures include displaying anti-drug posters at cross-boundary train stations, increasing the broadcast frequency of television and radio announcements, and holding district level preventive education and publicity activities.

Better service

Ms Wong said the opening of the Kowloon East Substance Abuse Clinic was timely in view of the rising trend of psychotropic substance abuse by youths.

"I am pleased to know the multi-disciplinary approach as recommended by the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse has been adopted at the clinic. Such arrangements can enhance case management, improve service delivery and ensure more effective use of community resources," Ms Wong said.