The Common Drugs of Abuse in Hong Kong

Yuen, Ecp

doi:10.1177/102490790100800205

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The findings in general concurred with the data from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse, [1][2][3]8 especially with regard to the small proportion of the population involved, sex and age distribution, unemployment and student status. However, in contrast, ecstasy had taken over heroin as the most commonly abused substance in the North District.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Recent research findings also link ecstasy use to long-term brain damage that leads to memory loss and motor disturbances. 2,3 When used with alcohol or other substances, it is even more dangerous. In addition, "club drugs" are often adulterated or impure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This confirmed the rising trend of psychotropic substance abuse, especially among the younger population in the New Territories. 3 Ecstasy was originally synthesized in Germany as an appetite suppressant in 1914. 4,9 Through the 1990s, ecstasy abuse escalated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the information from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA), there is a rising trend of ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA) and a downward trend of heroin abuse. 1 There was also an increase in the number of abusers of methamphetamine, ketamine and cannabis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Substance Abuse Patient Characteristics: A Scene from an Emergency Department near the Hong Kong – Shenzhen Border

Wc¹,

Tang²,

Chung³

2001

Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine

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Objective Drug abuse is an escalating problem in Hong Kong, especially among teenagers and young adults. A study was conducted in order to obtain the characteristics of drug abusers presenting to the Accident & Emergency department of North District Hospital, which is located in the New Territories near the Hong Kong – Shenzhen border. Design Prospective study. Setting Accident and Emergency department of a public general hospital. Patients Drug abusers presenting to the Accident and Emergency department in a six-month period. Main outcome measures Epidemiological data including demographic data, types of drug taken, place of drug abuse and magnitude of cross-border drug abuse were collected and analyzed. Results The sex distribution was male 59 and female 13 (ratio=4.5:1). The mean age was 29.2 (range 14 to 67 years). Of interest, 29.2% abused drugs at home; 29.2% abused drugs in parties such as karaoke, rave and disco; 68% abused drugs in Hong Kong; 32% abused drugs in China and 6.9% claimed themselves first-time drug abusers. The commonest drug taken was ecstasy (40.3%) – the majority (55%) in China and the rest (45%) in Hong Kong. For organic solvent abusers, 57.1% were below 18 years of age. One patient died, resulting in a mortality rate of 1.4%. Conclusion Ecstasy was the commonest drug abused on both sides of the “border”. The majority of substance abusers were teenagers or young adult males. This study confirmed the significant magnitude of psychotropic substance abuse problem among the young population in the North District, indicating the urgent need for clinical and social intervention.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%