Reported drug abuse falls 9% in first half
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago4 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's Central Registry of Drug Abuse recorded 2,688 reported drug abusers in the first half of the year, down from 2,955 in the same period last year. Among those aged under 21, reported drug abusers fell from 458 to 404, with etomidate remaining the most commonly abused substance in that age group, ahead of cannabis and cocaine.
Key Points
- The three most commonly reported drugs overall in the first half were heroin, methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, and cocaine.
- The Action Committee Against Narcotics met on September 15 under chairman Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung (李國棟), who said it would closely monitor changes in the remaining quarters
- Drug-crime arrests fell 10% year on year from 1,938 to 1,749, while arrests of people aged under 21 edged down 3% from 307 to 298.
- Among arrested youths, the main drugs involved were etomidate, cocaine and cannabis, according to law enforcement statistics for the first half.
- In court cases concluded during the same period, 87% of those prosecuted for drug offences were convicted, and more than half of jailed under-21 traffickers received terms of over five years, with the longest sentence 28 years.
Why It Matters
The figures suggest overall reported abuse and enforcement cases eased in the first half, but etomidate remained entrenched among young users and continued to feature prominently in youth arrests. Authorities are also pairing enforcement with prevention, with the Narcotics Division rolling out outreach for kindergarten and primary pupils and young parents, alongside public events that drew about 3,000 people in San Po Kong in late June and nearly 17,000 at the Hong Kong Book Fair in July