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Changing behavioural pattern of drug users in Hong Kong 1991-1995
Authors: Lee, S. S.; Hollinrake, J. B.; Ng, M. H.
Source: Addiction, Volume 93, Number 4, April 1998 , pp. 541-548(8)
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Abstract:
Aims. To analyse the temporal changes in demography and drug-taking behaviours of a cohort of drug users in Hong Kong . Design. An analysis of records of clients over a 5-year period . Setting. Shek Kwu Chau Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, a large residential service offering voluntary rehabilitation programmes for male drug users in Hong Kong . Measurements. The following parameters were analysed for all admissions between 1991 and 1995: duration of drug-taking, route(s) of drug administration, type of drugs abused, practice of injection and needle-sharing, time since last needle-sharing, and expenditure on drugs . Findings. A total of 10 353 admissions were recorded in the 5-year period from 1991 to 1995, of whom 2853 (27.6%) were new admissions. The mean age was 36 years. There was a significant increase in new admission in those between the age of 13 and 19. Almost all clients were heroin users. The needle-sharing rates fell from over 20% in 1991 to 5% in 1995. Needle-sharing was more common in younger clients. The decline in the rate of needle-sharing was especially significant in those between the age of 20 and 39 . Conclusion. The proportion of young drug users in the study population in Hong Kong has risen over the 5-year period. The prevalence of high-risk drug-taking behaviours had declined, which might have contributed to the low HIV rates in the community.Document Type: Research article
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.1998.9345419.x
Publication date: 1998-04-01
- In this: publication
- By this: publisher
- In this Subject: Public Health , Psychology
- By this author: Lee, S. S. ; Hollinrake, J. B. ; Ng, M. H.
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