The growing popularity of 'rave' parties has seen young people's use of Ecstasy double in proportion to other drugs, and the number of young drug abusers has risen by 40 per cent, figures released yesterday showed. The reported number of drug abusers aged under 21 rose to 1,057 in the first quarter of this year from 765 in the last quarter of 1999. Nearly half of them used Ecstasy compared with 25 per cent in the previous quarter, said Professor Lee Shiu-hung, chairman of the Action Committee Against Narcotics. The total number of reported drug abusers rose by two per cent to about 5,700, with those aged 21 and over down 3.5 per cent during the same period. The actual number would be higher, as these cases were only those reported to the committee by police, Customs officers and social workers, said Clarie Lo Ku Ka-lee, Commissioner for Narcotics. 'More youngsters are taking psychotropic drugs as the 'rave' culture gets more popular, and young people can more easily obtain party drugs such as Ecstasy and ketamine,' Mrs Lo said. A substantial drop in heroin use suggested that some youngsters had probably turned from heroin to Ecstasy, she said. A total of 0.06 per cent of the population of the SAR are soft drug users, compared with 0.79 per cent of abusers of amphetamine-type stimulants in the United States, three per cent in Britain and 0.3 per cent in Japan, according to United Nations statistics. The Narcotics Division had been working with 'rave' party organisers and venue providers to warn party-goers of the harmful effects and legal liabilities of using psychotropic drugs, said Mimi Lee Mei-mei, Principal Assistant Secretary for Security (narcotics). A seminar will be held next month for 'rave' organisers to tell them of the action police could take against illegal drug use and outlining what they could do to help, she said. Mrs Lee estimated about five large 'rave' organisers were running events for up to 4,000 party-goers as well as dozens of smaller 'raves' in the SAR. Other measures to be taken include strengthened Customs inspection at cross-border checkpoints and police action, closer co-operation with mainland authorities to curb cross-border drug abuse and trafficking, and stronger education. The Government is also planning to commission a survey involving 120,000 pupils on drug abuse in schools. Police figures show that in the first three months of this year, officers seized 30,135 Ecstasy tablets, compared with 21,202 for the whole of last year. Professor Lee said use of another 'club' drug, ketamine, was also a concern, with a rise from about two per cent to 14 per cent of all reported drug abuse cases. The Government plans to tighten controls on ketamine by including it in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Controlled under the Pharmacy and Poisonous Substance Ordinance, ketamine, a painkiller for animals, produces hallucinations in humans. Graphic: DRUG28GET
