Fears about cannabis abuse grow in Hong Kong after police seizures rise more than 200 per cent
Youth workers, police and psychiatrists express alarm after figures reveal surge in number of Hongkongers under 21 using the drug
The amount of cannabis seized by Hong Kong police increased 238 per cent in the first 10 months of this year, sparking fears about a growing trend of abuse in the city.
One in seven of the Hongkongers arrested for possession in that period was aged 20 or below, the force has revealed.
The latest official figures on the problem also showed the number of people aged under 21 reported to have abused cannabis surged 50 per cent year on year in the first half of 2017, to reach 63.
Police and concern groups blamed the internet for the sharp increase in seizures of the drug, which totalled 757kg from January to October, saying false information was spreading online claiming the plant could boost creativity without causing harm.
Psychiatrists however warned that cannabis use could cause anxiety, hallucinations and manic behaviour, and a quarter of addicts suffered from such side effects years after quitting the drug.