Drug abuse drops 14%

September 18, 2019

The total number of reported drug abusers in Hong Kong fell 14% year-on-year in the first half of 2019, the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) announced today.

 

According to the latest Central Registry of Drug Abuse figures, the number of reported psychotropic substance and narcotic analgesic abusers decreased 2% and 24% for the same period.

 

Heroin remained the most frequently abused drug in the city, while methamphetamine continued to be the most routine psychotropic substance abused.

 

Cannabis was the most common drug abused for those aged under 21, followed by cocaine and methamphetamine. Compared with the same period last year, the number of cannabis abusers increased by 60%.

 

The committee’s Chairman Dr Ben Cheung said ACAN has co-ordinated with the Narcotics Division to strengthen preventive education and publicity about the harms of cannabis and to rectify mistaken concepts about the drug.

 

Commissioner for Narcotics Manda Chan advised youngsters not to try drugs under peer pressure or to relieve boredom and to develop a healthy lifestyle.

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