Although the number of drug abusers continues to fall, Narcotics Division will enhance publicity targeting youths.

Commissioner for Narcotics Rosanna Ure, briefing the Action Committee Against Narcotics today, said drug abusers fell from 11,211 in the first half of 2002, to 8,984 in the same period in 2004, mainly due to a continuous decline in heroin abusers.

However, ketamine abusers have grown from 1,505 to 1,607. Mrs Ure said 952 were under 21.

"Of all young drug abusers under 21 in the first half of this year, 74.5% of them took ketamine. In the same period of 2002 and 2003, the corresponding percentages were 67.7% and 56.7%," she said.

Analysing the figures of the first six months of the last three years, the percentage of drug abusers under 21 who claimed to have used more than one drug also rose from 40.2% (2002) to 44.0% (2003) and 45.3% (2004).

In view of the new drug trend, committee members agreed that more publicity should be aimed at youngsters.