Editorial | No let up in the battle against ‘space oil’

The emergence of “space oil” as one of Hong Kong’s most popular recreational drugs last year called for swift and decisive action. Earlier this month, four substances used as ingredients were reclassified as dangerous drugs. This is a necessary step which significantly increased the penalties for their use or sale.

Those caught in possession face a sentence of up to seven years in jail and a maximum HK$1 million fine. Traffickers will face a potential life prison term and HK$5 million fine. This will help ensure the punishment fits the crime. The move will provide a much stronger deterrent and help law enforcement agencies crack down on those involved, such as by seizing the assets of dealers.

But strengthening the law is not the only step required to tackle the growing popularity of a drug that can seriously impair the physical and mental health of users, leading to addiction, memory loss, seizures, loss of consciousness or even death.

Recent figures show that more than half of the registered users of the drug last year were aged between 12 and 17. There were 16 cases in which young people were caught with space oil on school premises.

The prevalence of the drug, which can be mixed with other substances and packaged in e-cigarette capsules, is worrying. There is a need to ensure the city’s youth know that space oil is dangerous and must be avoided. With that in mind, the Security Bureau is to require schools to take part in “Anti-Space Oil Drug Week”.

An Education Bureau circular on the campaign includes videos, posters and teaching materials warning of the drug’s harmful effects.