A Brief Overview of Adolescent Developmental Problems in Hong Kong
Table 5
Reported drug abusers for 1999–2009 by age group by reason for current drug use based on the Central Registry on Drug Abuse.
Age group/reason for current drug use
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
%
Aged under 21
Peer influence/to identify with peers
62.8
68.2
66.0
58.2
57.9
60.0
68.4
64.9
58.8
64.2
67.7
Relief of boredom/depression/anxiety
29.8
28.2
26.4
27.6
28.7
31.4
40.4
41.3
41.3
44.2
51.1
Avoid discomfort of its absence
28.8
13.4
9.3
7.8
6.6
6.6
7.3
8.9
12.7
16.3
15.2
Curiosity
35.7
42.9
43.4
38.6
38.2
41.0
35.8
41.1
42.7
45.1
43.0
To seek euphoria or sensory satisfaction
26.5
44.5
39.6
38.9
32.7
34.6
43.4
42.4
37.4
33.9
33.6
For self-medication
1.3
0.6
0.8
0.5
1.6
0.8
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.6
2.0
Under influence of the partner
3.0
2.3
1.9
2.0
2.4
1.6
3.7
4.6
4.2
5.4
5.6
Other reasons
4.2
2.1
0.7
0.8
0.5
0.3
0.8
1.1
0.7
0.3
0.1
Source: Narcotics Division, Central Registry of Drug Abuse Fifty-ninth Report: 2000–2009, Narcotics Division, Security Bureau, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 2010 and Narcotics Division, Central Registry of Drug Abuse Fifty-eighth Report: 1999–2008, Narcotics Division, Security Bureau, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 2009.
