A TEAM of teachers and specialised social workers will hit the streets of Hong Kong Island this year, to wean teenagers off drugs and send them back to school. Social Welfare Department assistant director Carlos Leung Sze-hung announced the strategy yesterday, along with plans for a new day centre where young abusers will be able to seek help. He said the department would form a second team under its Against Substance Abuse scheme in October to reinforce its existing six-member team based in Kwun Tong. 'The first team was formed last October in line with the summit meeting in March convened by the Governor. Now we see the need to expand this and establish a second team,' Mr Leung said. The current team focuses on Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. But team member and social worker Tan Tick-yee said the first team was hampered by limitations which would not affect the second squad. 'Since all of the six members are social workers, we need teachers in the new team to provide remedial classes for young drug abusers. 'Their education level is usually low and that contributes to their low self-esteem, which in turn, drives them to substance abuse,' he said. The team has about 60 'clients' - under-21s who experiment with or occasionally abuse substances - from Form Two and Form Three classes in Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin. Chief social work officer (correctional) Kwan Kam-chuen said the new team would have 10 members: six social workers and four teachers or social worker assistants. 'The second team will be based on Hong Kong Island, covering city areas while the first team will move its base to the New Territories,' he said. Details of the centre, including its location, have yet to be finalised, but the department expects an outcry when its location is made public. Yesterday a parade was staged at Tsai Park in Kowloon City by more than 400 youths from 20 voluntary agencies, local groups, primary and secondary schools promoting the message 'Together we can beat drugs'.