The number of registered drug users in Macau declined by 36.7 percent year-on-year to 219 last year, the government announced yesterday, pointing out that the number of registered drug users under the age of 21 decreased by 48.4 percent to just 16.
The figures were released during this year’s first plenary meeting of the government-appointed Narcotics Control Committee (CLD) yesterday. The meeting chaired by Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U was held at the Confucius Hall of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ).
The statistics showed that 7.3 percent of the 219 registered drug users were aged under 21.
Based on data from the Macau Drug Users Central Registry System, the main drugs used last year were ice, accounting for 35.5 percent of the total, cocaine (19.2 percent) and cannabis (11.2 percent).
Some 70 percent of drug taking took place at the users’ homes, at their friends’ homes or in hotel guestrooms.
On average, the drug users spent 3,331 patacas on narcotics per month.
Wrapping up last year’s anti-drug work, Richard Cheang Io Tat, chief of the Social Affairs Bureau’s (IAS) Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Department, said that the government will further strengthen its efforts to raise awareness by different communities of Macau’s anti-drug legislation. Cheang also said that the fight against drug use by youngsters at home would remain one of the authorities’ anti-drug strategies.
Judiciary Police (PJ) Director Sit Chong Meng and Social Affairs Bureau President Ho Wai participated in the meeting. The committee comprises government officials and education, social welfare and community representatives.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U (centre) chairs this year’s first plenary meeting of the government-appointed Narcotics Control Committee at the Confucius Hall of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) yesterday. Photo: GCS
