The total number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2025 was 1,644, lower than the figure of 1,738 for the same period in 2024, the Action Committee Against Narcotics announced today.

According to data from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse, the number of reported drug abusers aged under 21 in the first quarter of 2025 was 285, with 128 of them having abused “space oil”.

“Space oil” has replaced cannabis to become the most common type of drug abused by young drug abusers, followed by cannabis and cocaine. 

The Government has listed the drug’s main ingredients – etomidate and its three analogues metomidate, propoxate and isopropoxate – as dangerous drugs, as regulated under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO).

The Government also plans to list the remaining etomidate analogues as dangerous drugs, and consulted the Legislative Council Security Panel on the matter earlier this month.

Action Committee Against Narcotics Chairman Donald Li said the committee fully supports the Government’s proposal.

“Apart from the legislation, the committee will continue to carry out relevant publicity and education work,” he said.

On the enforcement front, the total number of people arrested for drug offences in the first quarter of 2025 was 940. Of these, 140 are youngsters aged under 21.

“Space oil”, cannabis and cocaine were the main drugs involved in these arrests. In court cases concluded in the same period, the conviction rate of those prosecuted for drug offences was as high as 86%.

With the summer holidays approaching, the Security Bureau reminded youngsters not to participate in drug trafficking out of greed or by way of gambling on their luck.

Youth is not a valid mitigating factor for drug offences, and pleas of ignorance are no way to avoid legal liability, the bureau added.