How Does Drug Abuse Affect Personal Development of Hong Kong Teenagers?

Liberal Studies: Independent Enquiry Studies Enquiry theme: How does drug abuse affect personal development of Hong Kong teenagers?

1. Introduction
I am interested in the topic of drug abuse since I first study the bad effects of drug abuse. However, the reason I chose drug abuse as my enquiry topic because a new that I recently read .It showed a very dangerous trend appears in Hong Kong which is more and more teenagers try to abuse drugs.

It also found that drug abuse would cause great damage towards the personal development of teenagers.

As I am very worry about this issue so I developed interest on the issue of teenage drug abuse.

I also found that the age of teenager who abuse drugs become younger and younger. 1From the statistic done in 2009 shows that there were 8,916 drug users reported in the first six months of the year, which is 1.7% more than the same period in 2008. The number of drug users under 21 years old rose from 2,106 to 2,175.

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This information shows the urgency to pay attention to the problem. If we do not pay attention to the issue of teenage drug abuse, many teenagers will suffer greatly from drug abuse. Furthermore, I had also done an interview with a social worker, Miss Fung. I have a more clear understanding towards the reasons that cause teenagers to abuse drugs.

I think it is very important to consider the reasons of teenage drug abuse .We can try to prevent teenager drug abuse only when we know why they try to abuse drugs. Furthermore, we also need to consider the bad effects of teenage drug abuse towards their personal development so that teenagers could understand the seriousness of drug abuse. This is also an effective ways in preventing teenage from abusing drugs.

1

Teen Drug Use Increasing in Hong Kong Posted on September 8, 2009

http://www.teendrugabuse.org/drugs-abused/teen-drug-use-increasing-in-hong-kong 3

2. Objectives
1. 2. To find out reasons that teenagers try to abuse drugs To find out whether the problem of teenage drug abuse is serious among Hong Kong teenagers? 3. 4. To see the effect of abusing drugs towards teenagers’ personal development. To give some suggestion on how to prevent teenagers drug abuse.

Focus Questions
1. What is meant by drug abuse? 2. Are Hong Kong teenagers abuse drugs is a common phenomenon in the society? 3. What are the reasons that drive the Hong Kong teenagers to abuse drugs? 4. What are the bad effects causes by drugs abusing towards the teenagers’ personal development? 5. How can the society help to prevent teenage drug abuse?

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3. Research Methodology
3.1 Questionnaire
The target interviewees are teenagers aged between 12 to 21 years old. There are 43 respondents for the questionnaire. This questionnaire was set in English. The questionnaire is an online interview which designed in the form of multiple choice or some ranking questions to find out the reasons that drive teenagers to abuse drugs and the negative impacts brought by drug abuse, and the effectiveness of some preventive measures towards teenage drug abuse. The questionnaire is divided into 4 parts. Part 1 asked for the personal information about the interviewees, part 2 asks for the cause of teenage drug abuse, part 3 asks for the bad impacts brought by drug abuse and part 4 asks for the effectiveness of some preventive methods in preventing teenage drug abuse.

3.2 Interview
The data collection process also includes an interview with a teenage social worker who had worked as a teenage social worker for 6 years. During the interview, a series of questions about teenage drug abuse were being asked in order to collect data for the research. For example, in your point of view, what are the main causes that drive teenagers to abuse drugs?

3.3 Limitations
There are some questions in the questionnaire are used to decide the effectiveness of some preventive measures towards teenage drug abuse. Therefore, it is a bit difficult for the respondents may found that it is difficult to answer these questions the questions. However, it is necessary to determine the effectiveness of these preventive measures so as to conclude some effective preventive measures in preventing teenage drug abuse. Also, there were only 43 respondents to answer the questionnaire so the data collected may not able to represents the general condition of teenage drug abuse in Hong Kong. Moreover, the main cause of teenage drug abuse and the bad effects of teenage drugs could be 5

finding out in the questionnaire.

4. Literature Review
The problem of drug abuse of Hong Kong teenagers became a very hot topic among the society. There are also some figures shows that there are increasing trend of Hong Kong teenagers abuse drugs and there are many surveys show that teenage drug abuse would caused many bad effects towards their growth and development. I would give a brief analysis based on the following articles. The article “Teen drug use in Hong Kong” shows that there is an increasing number of teenage drug abuser in Hong Kong. At the same time, the age of drug abusers become much younger than the previous years. The statistic shows that there were 8,916 drug users reported in the first six months of 2009, 1.7% more than the same period last year.

The number of drug users under 21 years old rose from 2,106 to 2,175.Most importantly, the drug users aged 12 to 15, the number of which has grown 25% from 204 to 256. This shows that there is an urgent need to take action to stop and prevent teenagers in Hong Kong to abuse drugs. On the other hand, the article “Problems arising from drug abuse” by Valerie Belew studied the problems caused by drug abuse. It studied is not just focus on the problem s caused by drug abuse towards teenagers but it studied the problems as a whole. The problems caused by drug abuse would also happen in adult. It pointed out the seriousness of drug abuse towards once personal development. The articles divided the problems arise from drug abuse into 5 aspects, addiction as Brain dysfunction, developmental problems, physical disease, family problems and financial problems. The article is useful I providing a detailed information about the bad effects caused by drug abuse. Although the problems caused by drug abuse discussed in the article are not addressed to teenagers, the information can also be applied to the negative impacts of teenage drug abuse towards their personal development. 6

5. Findings and Analysis
5.1 General information of the questionnaire I posted the questionnaire in the website (www.my3q.com) on 12/4/2010. There are totally 43 respondents answered the questions.

5.2 Definition of drug abuse

Definition provided by respondents
Misuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs

No of respondents 3 5

A maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent Intake of illegal drugs Over intake of certain drugs which lead to addiction

10 25
Table 1

According to table 1, different respondents have different opinion onto the definition of drug abuse. These definitions given by respondents are correct. This shows that most of the Hong Kong teenagers have a brief understanding towards the meaning of drug abuse. However, their concept of drug abuse is not clear enough. The most comprehensive definition of drug abuse is a 2compulsive, excessive, and self-damaging use of habit forming drugs or substances, leading to addiction or dependence, serious physiological injury (such as damage to kidneys, liver, heart) and or psychological harm (such as dysfunctional behavior patterns, hallucinations, memory loss), or death. It also called substance abuse. Therefore, the definitions given by the respondents are very similar the most comprehensive definitions. This shows that teenagers understand the meaning of drug

2

Drug abuse http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/drug-abuse.html

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abuse. 5.3 The universality of the problem of teenage drug abuse in Hong Kong

Do you think the problem of teenage drug abuse is common in Hong Kong? 16%

Yes No

84%

Chart 1

From the above data, 16 % (7/43))of respondents think that the problem of teenage drug abuse is common in Hong Kong while there are 84% (36/43) of respondents believe that the problem of teenage drug abuse is common in Hong Kong. It shows that most of the respondents think the problem of teenage drug abuse is common in Hong Kong.

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5.4 Reasons that cause teenage drug abuse

What cause teenagers to take drugs? (Can choose more than one blanks) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

34
27 20 12 6 5

Peer influence

Seeking for excitement

Escaping from the sadness

Imitating the manner of parents

Underestimate the bad effects of drugs

Others

Chart 2

5.4.1 Peer influence According to Chart 2, the main reasons that cause the respondents to abuse drugs is “Peer influence ”, where 36 respondents had chosen this item. Peer is a very influential group among teenagers. 3As teenagers usually spend a large amount of times with their peers so peers will play a very influential role in teenagers’ live. The credibility, authority, power, and influence of peers are greater during adolescence than at any other time in life. Therefore, teenagers will seek for acceptance and belonging to their peer groups. In this way, teenagers are more likely to abuse drugs if their peers had abuse drugs so as to gain peer recognition.

Also, teenagers would feel it is difficult to refuse the requests by their peers. As they worried they would be isolated by their peers if they refused their requests so they would usually take the requests

3

Peer Influence - Development Of Peer Influence, Negative Peer Influence, Positive Peer Influence, Family Relationships And Peer Influence - JRank Articles http://family.jrank.org/pages/1265/Peer-Influence.html#ixzz1aI7t6nxU 9

f their peers. Even though they know that abusing drugs is bad for their health, they would still follow their peers to abuse drugs. Teenagers would feel more save if they follow the manners of their peers. Therefore, they would follow the manners of their peers like abusing drugs if their peers ask them to do so.

5.4.2 Seeking for excitement Seeking for excitement is also a very important reason that cause teenagers abuse drugs. There are 27 respondents think that “seeking for excitement” is the main reasons that cause teenage drug abuse. In fact, seeking for excitement is a very common characteristic among teenagers. As teenagers usually focus on studies in their age and they may feel bored of studying. Thus they would like to seek for some excitement in order to make their live more “interesting”. Some kind of drugs may cause some side effects like a sense of excitement after in taking them. Therefore, some teenagers would like to take these drugs in order to gain a sense of excitement.

5.4.3 Escaping from sadness According to chart2, there are 20 respondents think that “escaping from sadness” is an important reason that cause teenagers abuse drugs. Teenagers are not mature enough in their age so they easily develop an idea of escaping from the reality when they faced difficulties. People may have hallucination or they may lose their senses after they took drugs. Therefore, some teenagers would like to take drugs so as to forget their sadness and enjoy the hyper feeling brought by taking drugs. Thus, these teenagers abuse drugs in order to escape from their sadness in reality.

5.4.4 Others All of the respondents chosen others believe that the main reason that causes drug abuse is curiosity. Teenagers usually feel very curious about different things that they have not tried before. At the same time, many adults emphasis that drug abuse would cause great harm towards their personal 10

development. Hence, teenagers would be more curious about drug abuse so they would try to abuse drugs due to curiosity.

5.5 Bad effects brought by abusing drugs

Do you think drug abuse will bring any negative impacts towards the society? 0%

Yes No

100%

Chart 3

Are the following the negative impacts of drug abuse?
45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 17 10 17 10 25 20 14 17 39

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Chart 4

According to Chart 3, all of the 43 respondents believe that drug abuse will bring some negative effects towards the society. Drug abuse would cause great damage towards health of the drug addicts. Thus, these drug addicts may not able to continue with their work or affect their performance in working after they abuse drugs. This will defiantly reduce the productivity of Hong Kong.

Furthermore, drug abuse will cause great damage towards the health of drug addicts. Then, they need to visit the doctors frequently to receive medical treatment. This would place a heavy burden of medical services in Hong Kong. It will also increase the medical expenditure which may reduce the expenditure spend o other development. Therefore, it will slow down economic development.

On the other hand, drug addicts are not able to control themselves due to the side effects of drugs. Thus, they may perform some dangerous behavior after they take drugs like crossing the road without considering the condition of pavement. This will increase the risk of accidents. It is also very dangerous if these drug addicts to drive cars after abusing drugs. This could also increase the risk of car accidents which place a serious threat towards the security system of Hong Kong. Therefore, drug abuse would definitely ring lots of negative impacts towards the society.

On the other hand, according to chart 4, 39 respondents think that drug abuse would lead to addiction. Drug addiction is a dependence on illegal drugs or medications. Once people had tried taking drugs, they could hardly resist the temptation of taking drugs again and again. 4Actually, drug addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful

4

Understanding of drug abuse and drug addiction http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/understand.html 12

consequences to the addicted individual and to those around him or her. Although the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that occur over time challenge a person’s self control and ability to resist intense impulses urging them to take drugs. Once they stop in taking drugs, the side effects of taking these drugs like irritability and disorientation would appear more frequently which would cause great pain onto the drug addicts. If teenage drug addicts become addict onto drugs, this would not just cause damage to their health. As these teenage drug addicts also has to frequently in take drugs if they addicted onto drugs.

Moreover, the cost of drugs is really expansive so it will place a very heavy economic burden towards these teenage drug addicts. Also, if they are addicted into drugs, they will put their full attention onto drugs. Then they would not able to concentrate onto their studies when they addicted onto drugs. Therefore, addiction onto drugs would badly affect the personal growth and development.

Furthermore, there are 25 of respondents think that drug abuse would cause waning of memory. People would hardly remember things. They would be very forgetful. Drug addicts who suffered from this side effects caused by abusing drugs could never be recovered. It is because the reason that people become forgetful after abusing drugs is due to the damage of some tissues and cell in the brain. The drugs that in took by drug addicts would damage their brain cells or tissues which cause the loss of memory. Therefore, people could hardly remember things in this situation. This would greatly affect the daily activities of the drug addicts.

They could hardly finish their work when they suffered from this side effect. If teenagers in take these drugs and develop this side effects, this would badly affect their studies. The worst case is that these teenage drug addicts could not continue with their studies. Therefore, waning of memory is a long term effects onto the drug addicts which are not able to recover forever. Thus, this would also cause serious bad effects onto their future career. Therefore, waning of memory is really a serious negative effect of drug abuse which would badly affect the personal growth and development of teenagers. 13

In addition, there is 20 respondents chose “depression” as one of the bad effects of drug abuse. Actually, certain drugs may contribute to the etiology of depressive symptoms and depressive disorders. Drug addicts would easily feel depressed after they took these drugs. Also, when the hyper feeling brought by the drugs passed, drug addicts would feel much depressed. It is because they need to be back to the reality which may have many difficulties.

The drug addicts may cause depression in when they were back to the cruel reality. If teenage drug addicts frequently feel depressed, they may easily choose other ways to help them to solve this problem which is suicide. As teenagers is not mature enough in handling depression, so they would easily come up the idea of suicide in order to help them to escape from sadness. Therefore, depression would cause serious bad effects onto the personal growth and development of teenagers.

5.6 Methods of prevention of teenage drug abuse

Do you know what the School-Based mandatory drug testing scheme about? 2%

Yes No 98%

Chart 5

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Do you think the scheme can decrease the number of teenagers take drugs?

33%

Yes
No 67%

Chart 6

5.6.1 Universality of the mandatory drug testing scheme According to chart 5, 98% (42/43) respondents know about the mandatory drug testing scheme. The mandatory drug testing scheme is a trial scheme organized by the government which aim at 5

enhancing the resolve of students who have not taken any drugs to continue to stay away from

drugs. Also, for students abusing drugs, the scheme can trigger their motivation to seek help and provide appropriate professional support to help them kick the habit early. After introducing this scheme to public, it aroused great public concern about the privacy of students. Although all the results of the scheme would not be publican, many people still believed that this scheme would interfere the privacy of students. The variety of opinions given by different interest groups enable the scheme became a very controversial issue in Hong Kong. Hence, more and more Hong Kong citizens would pay attention to the scheme and learn more about this mandatory drug testing scheme. Therefore, there will have such a large proportion of respondents’ show that they know about this scheme.

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Details of Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing in Tai Po District announced http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200910/19/P200910190178.htm 15

5.6.2 Effectiveness of the mandatory drug testing scheme On the other hand, according to chart 6, there are about 67% (28/43) of respondents believe that this mandatory drug testing scheme can effectively decrease the number of teenage drug addicts in Hong Kong. As this scheme is mainly carried out in schools so it can successfully find out teenage drug addicts in school and provide suitable medical treatment in order to help them to stop abusing drugs. Therefore, this scheme can successfully help in decreasing the number of teenage drug addicts in Hong Kong.

However, there are 33% (14/42) of respondents believe this scheme is not effective in decreasing the number of teenage drug addicts in Hong Kong. It is because this scheme is a voluntary drug testing scheme. Thus, teenage drug addicts can refuse to join this scheme so this scheme is quite difficult to find out these teenage drug addicts in school. Therefore, these respondents believe that this mandatory drug testing scheme is not effective in decreasing he number of teenage drug addicts in Hong Kong. Moreover, according to the data collected, people still carry a positive attitude towards this mandatory drug testing scheme.

5.6.3 Promotion by the government

Do you know about any promotion on preventive measure of drug abuse done by the government? 16% Yes No 84%

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Chart 7

According to chart 7, 84% (36/43) of respondents acquired some promotions on preventing drug abusing done by the government. In recent years, there are more and more surveys show that there is an increasing trend of teenage drug abuse. This arouses public attention. Therefore, the government put more efforts in promoting the preventive measures of teenage drug abuse. For example, government inserts many television commercial and different kinds of advertisement for promoting the preventive measures. Therefore, people can easily acquire these promotions on preventing drug abusing.

This can help to gain public awareness onto the prevention of drug abuse which is a very effective ways in preventing teenage drug abuse. However, there are 16% (7/43) of respondents did not acquire any promotions on preventive measures of drug abuse done by the government. This shows that the promotion done by the government in preventing drug abuse is not enough. Therefore, the government has to pay more efforts in promoting the preventive measures of drug abuse so as to prevent teenagers from abusing drugs.

5.6.4 Effectiveness of some preventive measures in preventing teenage drug abuse

Government do more promotion on the bad effects of drug abusing 2% 12% 21% Very Effective Effective Not Effective Poor 65%

Chart 8 17

According to chart 8, there are 86% (37/43) of respondents think that government do more promotion on the bad effects of drug abuse is an effective ways in preventing teenage drug abuse. Some of the teenagers may underestimate the bad effects brought by drug abuse. If they could understand the seriousness consequences of drug abuse, this may help to prevent them from trying drugs. Therefore, it is a very effective way in preventing teenagers from abusing drugs.

Parents cooperate with schools to keep an eye on the manner of teenagers 0% 14% 14% Very Effective Effective Not Effective

Poor
72%

Chart 9

According to chart 9, there are 86% (37/43) of respondents thinks that the most effective way in preventing teenage drug abuse is the cooperation between parents and schools to keep an eye on the manner of teenagers. As the symptoms’ caused by drug abuse are very obvious. Therefore, if parents and the schools can keep an eye on their manner, it can easily find out the teenage drug abusers. Hence, parents could try to find some treatment in order to help their children get rid of drugs. Therefore, it is also an effective way in preventing teenage drug abuse.

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Parents communicate more with their children
0% 21% 12% Very Effective Effective Not Effective Poor 67%

Chart 10

According to chart 10, there are 79 %( 34/43) of respondents thinks that more communications between parents and children is an effective way in preventing teenage drug abuse. Parents are a very influential group in the life of teenagers. Although children may sometimes show rebellion to their parents, they usually tend to listen to the advice given by their parents.

Parents could find out whether their children had taken drugs through rapid communications between parents and children. It is easier for the teenage drug addicts to get rid of drugs when they receive medical treatment as early as possible. They can also stop their children from abusing drugs once they found out that they had tried drugs before. Therefore, it is also an effective way in preventing teenage drug abuse.

5.6.1 Conclusion Among 10 preventive ways given in the questionnaire, most of
the respondents believe that “Parents communicate more with their children”, “Parents cooperate with schools to keep an eye on the manner of teenagers” and “Government do more promotion on the bad effects of drug abusing” are the best ways in preventing teenage drug abuse.

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5.7 Sources of information about drugs

Where is your major source of information about drugs come from? 5% 19% Promotion by the government (e.g.: advertisement, leaflets) Books Newspaper 35% 9% Talks Internet Others

23% 9%

Chart 11

According to chart11, there are 35% (15/43) of respondents obtain information about drugs through internet while there are 23% (10/43) of respondents obtain information about drugs through newspaper. Also, there are 19% (8/43) of respondents obtain information about drugs through promotions by government. This shows that the Hong Kong has pay great attention onto the problem of teenage drug abuse which can provide a good environment in preventing teenage drug abuse.

5.8 Interview I had done an interview with Miss.Fung, a teenage social worker who has handled numerous of cases about teenage drug abuse. She gave a detailed distribution about the cause and bad effects of teenage drug abuse which is very similar to the data collected through questionnaire. However, she gave a great suggestion in preventing teenage drug abuse. She suggested that the government should turn the voluntary drug testing scheme into a compulsory drug testing scheme. She believed this would be a very effective way in preventing teenage drug abuse.

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6. Conclusion
From the research, we found that most of the people think that the problem of teenage drug abuse is very common in Hong Kong. Therefore, the problem of teenage drug abuse is quite serious in Hong Kong that we should pay attention on it and try to take actions to stop this problem from becoming more serious in the future.

The main reasons that drive teenage abusing drugs are peer influence, seeking for excitement and escaping from sadness. Between all these reasons, peer influence is a major cause of teenage drug abuse as they do not want to refuse the requests of their friends in order to gain recognition. Therefore, we need to consider some preventive measures of teenage drug abuse that could address to this main cause.

There are many bad effects that are caused by teenage drug abuse. The most common bad effects are addition, waning of memory and depression. All these bad effects would have great impact towards the teenage drug addicts which may badly affect their personal growth and development.

We also found that more communications between parents and children, cooperation between parents and school in order to keep an eye on the manner of teenagers, more government promotions about the bad effects of drug abuse can help in preventing teenage drug abuse. Also, imposing a compulsory drug testing scheme in order to find out teenage drug addicts in Hong Kong is also an effective way in preventing teenage drug abuse.

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7. Reflective
After finishing the whole projects, I found that I have learned many things through doing this project. I have a more clear understanding towards teenage drug abuse in this moment. Although it is very great that I could learn so many things in this project, this project is a very difficult task for me as I need to finish it by myself. The level of difficulty is three
time that of finishing a group work project.

In the beginning, I chose teenage drug abuse as my enquiry theme because I think this topic is really easy. I can easily find many sources about teenage drugs abuse. Hence, I can finish my project as soon as possible. However, I am totally wrong. There are many difficulties I faced during the project. I found it difficult to identify the useful information about teenage drug abuse from a long passage of article. It took a long time to read through the sources and extract useful information from them. The techniques taught by teacher in choosing articles helped me to save up the time for reading useless articles.

Besides, most of the information about teenage drug abuse is secondary source. Therefore, I have to find some primary sources so as to enable my project to be a more comprehensive project. Then, I chose to do interviews with social workers in order to obtain primary sources. This is another difficult task that I have to tackle with during the project. I found it difficult to look for social workers that are willing to do interview with me. After making several times of invitations, I successfully find a social worker to help me in doing the interview. Although I can only do the interview through phones, this interview helps me greatly in doing this project.

As a whole, I think it is a very valuable experience in finishing such a big project by myself. Besides the knowledge I obtained from the project, I also learn some ways in tackling difficulties which are very important that I could never learn them through books. I believe these problem 22

tacking skills would be very useful even I am in the university.

(Word Count: 4558)

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8. Bibliography

Type of materials Newspaper Books/ Articles/ Reports 2.青少年濫藥 可急性中毒死 東方日報 1.Dennis Erng and Advian (Author) (October 18, 2010) South China morning Post (A1)

香 港 大 學 李 嘉 誠 醫 學 院 兒 童 及 青 少 年 科 學 系 臨 床 副 教 授 (auth or) (September 5,2010)

3.校 園 驗 毒 計 畫 擬 擴 至 全 港 任 秀 群 ,張 一 華 (author) 2010 年 9 月 30 日 星 島 日 報 4.新興迷幻毒品無管制 東方日報 5.濫藥青少年八成記憶受損 2011-01-18 星 島 日 報 6.青年濫藥個案急增三成 (星島)2010 年 12 月 26 日 星期日 記者：張一華 Teen Drug Use Increasing in Hong Kong September 8, 2009 相遇=傷癒──戒毒歷程生命故事集 陳國溪、麥家輝編著 Problems arising from drug abuse 戒毒如何一世斷尾 Websites: 李小珊 天道書樓出版 星島日報 探 射 燈 小 組 (auth or) (October 7,2010)

by Valerie Belew, eHow Contributor

ICE Case Studies

http://wwwl.aeric.edu/ied/ice/DIAOYU.htm

Video:

Cheng-China Huang (July 1997) http://programme.rthk.hk/rthk/tv/programme.php?name=tv/drugbattle2011&p=4987&m=archi ve&page=1&item=100

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9. Appendix
Questionnaire I am a F.5 student of St. Francis’ Canossian College. I am doing a survey about teenage drug abuse in Hong Kong. Please fill in the questionnaire below. The information will be used for academic purposes only. Please put a tick in the chosen boxes. 1. Age: □ 12-18 □ 19-22 □ 23or above

2. Have you ever abuse drugs before? Yes □ No 3. What is meant by drug abuse?

4. Do you think the problem of teenage drug abuse is common in Hong Kong? □ Yes □ No

5. What cause teenagers to take drugs? (Can choose more than one blanks) □ Peer influence □ Seeking for excitement □ □ □ □ Escaping from the sadness Imitating the manner of parents Underestimate the bad effects of drugs Others: (please specify)

6. Do you think drug abuse will bring any negative impacts towards the society? □ Yes □ No

7. Are the following the negative impacts of drug abuse? ( can choose more than one blanks) □ Addiction (成癮) □ Respiratory depression(壓抑呼吸) □ Nausea (噁心) □ Loss of appetite (食慾不振) □ Waning of memory (記憶力衰退) □ Dehydration (脫水) □ Depression (抑鬱) 25

□ Insomnia (失眠) □ Dizziness (暈眩) 8. Do you know what the School-Based mandatory drug testing scheme about? □ Yes (please answer question 7) □ No (please move on answering question 8)

9. Do you think the scheme can decrease the number of teenagers take drugs? □ Yes □ No

10. Do you know about any promotion on preventive measures of drug abuse done by the government? □ Yes □ No

11. How effective are the following methods help preventing teenage drugs abuse? Circle the number. Very Effective Parents communicate more with their children Parents learn more about the symptom of drug abusing Parents cooperate with schools to keep an eye on the manner of teenagers Government do more promotion on the bad effects of drug abusing Government proposed a mandatory drug testing scheme Government send more social workers to talk with drug abuser Government build more drug rehabilitation centers (戒毒中心) School provide sources to teachers so as to let them know more about the symptoms of drug abusing Hold more talks to educate the teenagers at school
26

Effective 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Not Effective 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Poor 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

4

3

2

1

Teacher communicate more with students

4

3

2

1

12. Where did you get the information about drugs? (Can choose more than one blanks) □ Promotion by the government (e.g.: advertisement, leaflets) □ Books □ Newspaper □ Talks □ Internet □ Others: (please specify) This is the end of the questionnaire. Thank you for finishing the questionnaire. Charts: 1. Age:

Age

0% 7%

12 to 18 19-22 23 or above

93%

A-12-18 (40) B-18-22 (3) C-23or above (0)

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2 Have you ever abuse drugs before?

Have you ever abuse drugs before?

26% Yes

No 74%

A- Yes (11) B. No (32) 3. What is meant by drug abuse? Definition provided by respondents Misuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs

No of respondents 3 5 10 25

A maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent Intake of illegal drugs Over intake of certain drugs which lead to addiction

4. Do you think the problem of teenage drug abuse is common in Hong Kong?

Do you think the problem of teenage drug abuse is common in Hong Kong? 16% Yes No 84%

A-Yes (36) B-No (7) 28

4.What cause teenagers to take drugs? (Can choose more than one blanks)

What cause teenagers to take drugs? (Can choose more than one blanks) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 34 27 20 12

6

5

Peer influence

Seeking for excitement

Escaping from the sadness

Imitating the manner of parents

Underestimate the bad effects of drugs

Others

A- Peer influence (34) B- Seeking for excitement (27) C- Escaping from the sadness (20) D- Imitating the manner of parents (6) E- Underestimate the bad effects of drugs (12) F- Others (5)

No Selection (0) Select 1 item (10) Select 3 items (15) Select 5 items (1) Select 2 items (12) Select 4 items (5) Select 6 items (0)

5. Do you think drug abuse will bring any negative impacts towards the society?

Do you think drug abuse will bring any negative impacts towards the society? 0%

Yes No 100%

A-Yes (43) B-No (0)

29

6. Are the following the negative impacts of drug abuse?

Are the following the negative impacts of drug abuse?
45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 39 25 17 10 17 10 20 14 17

No Selection (0) Select 1 item (3) Select 5 items (4) Select 9 items (3) 7. Do you know what the School-Based mandatory drug testing scheme about? Select 2 items (13) Select 6 items (5) Select 3 items (6) Select 7 items (3) Select 4 items (6) Select 8 items (0)

Do you know what the School-Based mandatory drug testing scheme about? 2%

Yes No

98%

A- Yes (please answer question 7) (42) B- No (please move on answering question 8) (1)

30

8. Do you think the scheme can decrease the number of teenagers take drugs?

Do you think the scheme can decrease the number of teenagers take drugs?

33% Yes No 67%

A- Yes (28) B- No (14)

9.

Do you know about any promotion on preventing drug abusing done by the
government?

Do you know about any promotion on preventive measures of drug abuse done by the government? 16% Yes No 84%

A- Yes (36) No (7)

10. How effective are the following methods help preventing teenage drugs abuse?

31

Parents communicate more with their children
0% 12%

21%
Very Effective Effective Not Effective Poor 67%

A-Very Effective (5) B-Effective (29) C-Not Effective (9) D-Poor (0)

Parents learn more about the symptom of drug abusing
0% 9% 30% Very Effective Effective Not Effective Poor 61%

A-Very Effective (4) B-Effective (26) C-Not Effective (13) D-Poor (0)

32

Parents cooperate with schools to keep an eye on the manner of teenagers 0% 14% 14% Very Effective Effective Not Effective Poor

72%

A- Very Effective (6) B- Effective (31) C- Not Effective (6) D- Poor (0)

Government proposed a mandatory drug testing scheme

2% 7% 28% Very Effective Effective Not Effective Poor 63%

A- Very Effective (3) B- Effective (27) C- Not Effective (12) D- Poor (1)

33

Government do more promotion on the bad effects of drug abusing 2% 12%

21%
Very Effective Effective Not Effective Poor

65%

A- Very Effective (9) B- Effective (28) C- Not Effective (5) D- Poor (1)

Government send more social workers to talk with drug abuser 5% 7% 21% Very Effective

Effective
Not Effective Poor 67%

A- Very Effective (3) B- Effective (29) C- Not Effective (9) D- Poor (2)

34

Government build more drug rehabilitation centers (戒毒中心) 5% 23% 16% Very Effective Effective Not Effective Poor 56%

A- Very Effective (7) B- Effective (24) C- Not Effective (10) D- Poor (2)

School provide sources to teachers so as to let them know more about the symptoms of drug abusing 2% 5% Very Effective 30% Effective Not Effective 63% Poor

A- Very Effective (2) B- Effective (27) C- Not Effective (13) D- Poor (1)

35

Hold more talks to educate the teenagers at school
2% 9% Very Effective 28% 61% Effective Not Effective Poor

Very Effective A(1) B-

Effective (26) C-

Not Effective (12) DPoor (4)

Teacher communicate more with students
0% 9% Very Effective 42%

Effective
Not Effective 49% Poor

A-Very Effective (4) B-Effective (21) C-Not Effective (18) D-Poor (0)

11. Where did you get the information about drugs?

36

Where is your major source of information about drugs come from? 5% 19% Promotion by the government (e.g.: advertisement, leaflets) Books Newspaper 35% 9% Talks Internet Others

23% 9%

Promotion by the government (e.g.: advertisement, leaflets) Books (4) Newspaper (10) Talks (4) Internet (15) Others (2) Identities of respondents Submit Time Apr-12-2011 1:33 am Apr-12-2011 01:35 am Apr-12-2011 01:49 am Apr-12-2011 03:57 am Apr-12-2011 12:40 pm Apr-12-2011 12:49 pm Apr-12-2011 04:34 pm Apr-12-2011 05:02 pm Apr-12-2011 06:37 pm Apr-12-2011 06:45 pm
Apr-12-2011 07:10 pm Apr-12-2011 07:37 pm Apr-12-2011 08:11 pm 37

(8)

IP Address 218.253.118.159 116.48.84.219 61.10.137.36 99.238.61.74 173.58.21.249 113.255.170.79 223.19.184.136 218.102.79.213 116.48.75.180 59.149.153.34 203.185.58.179 113.254.253.200 112.119.248.186

Host Name cm218-253-118-159.hkcable.com.hk n1164884219.netvigator.com cm61-10-137-36.hkcable.com.hk CPE002401e5519f-CM00252eac3ca8.cpe.ne t.cable.rogers.com pool-173-58-21-249.lsanca.fios.verizon.net 113.255.170.79 223.19.184.136 pcd547213.netvigator.com n1164875180.netvigator.com 059149153034.ctinets.com 203185058179.res.dyn.ctinets.com 113.254.253.200 n112119248186.netvigator.com

Apr-12-2011 08:25 pm Apr-12-2011 08:44 pm Apr-12-2011 08:47 pm Apr-12-2011 09:06 pm Apr-13-2011 10:46 pm Apr-14-2011 01:38 pm Apr-14-2011 07:24 pm Apr-14-2011 07:35 pm Apr-14-2011 07:54 pm Apr-14-2011 09:57 pm Apr-16-2011 05:51 pm Apr-16-2011 08:01 pm Apr-16-2011 11:59 pm Apr-17-2011 06:00 pm Apr-18-2011 08:49 pm Apr-18-2011 09:07 pm Apr-19-2011 01:13 am Apr-19-2011 03:22 pm Apr-22-2011 09:29 pm Apr-24-2011 02:29 pm Apr-26-2011 04:50 pm Apr-27-2011 06:48 pm Apr-28-2011 12:46 pm Apr-29-2011 03:27 pm Apr-29-2011 06:40 pm Apr-29-2011 11:00 pm Apr-30-2011 12:35 am Apr-30-2011 09:03 pm Apr-30-2011 09:20 pm

1.64.165.238 183.178.233.130 218.102.78.191 183.178.233.130 219.77.191.43 210.0.215.8 219.78.208.104 119.236.24.10 61.15.71.5 119.236.6.158 113.252.34.192 182.152.192.106 61.244.123.197 58.152.150.46 219.77.185.170 218.103.150.72 112.118.163.103 61.18.212.47 203.218.91.96 218.102.80.176 203.218.217.113 1.64.55.82 112.118.142.138 58.152.235.175 112.118.161.164 183.178.233.130 203.223.234.196 116.49.135.19 116.49.87.171

1-64-165-238.static.netvigator.com 183178233130.ctinets.com pcd546191.netvigator.com 183178233130.ctinets.com n219077191043.netvigator.com 210.0.215.8 n219078208104.netvigator.com
n11923624010.netvigator.com cm61-15-71-5.hkcable.com.hk n1192366158.netvigator.com 113.252.34.192 m182-152-192-106.smartone-vodafone.com 061244123197.ctinets.com n058152150046.netvigator.com n219077185170.netvigator.com n218103150072.netvigator.com n112118163103.netvigator.com cm61-18-212-47.hkcable.com.hk pcd301096.netvigator.com pcd548176.netvigator.com pcd427113.netvigator.com 1-64-55-082.static.netvigator.com n112118142138.netvigator.com n058152235175.netvigator.com n112118161164.netvigator.com 183178233130.ctinets.com 203.223.234.196 n11649135019.netvigator.com n1164987171.netvigator.com n11649154003.netvigator.com

May-01-2011 06:51 pm 116.49.154.3

38

Interview transcripts Date: 10th April, 2011 Time: 5:00p.m.-5:30p.m. Mode of interview: personal interview 訪問稿 I:訪問者 K:馮海兒社工 I:馮先生, 你好。十分感謝你願意抽空接受我的訪問。 K:不用謝，我亦十分感謝你的邀請。 I:好了。事不且辭，我們立即開始進行訪問。我相信你已清楚今日訪問的主題是有關你的專業, 青少年吸毒問題。首先, 你認為香港的吸毒問題是否嚴重呢？ K: 香港的吸毒問題可謂嚴重了, 就我認識的吸毒青年已過百了, 更不要論其他社工所認識的 了。 I:這也算頗嚴重的了。那你認為導致青少年吸毒的原因是什麼? K: 原因有很多。而其中最典型的原因是朋輩影響。青少年總要面子,更怕因拒絕吸毒而失去朋 友， 所以在朋友鼓勵下會嘗試吸毒。 亦有些是因為家庭問題,學業壓力, 因愛冒險、愛出風頭, 無 知、好奇、想逃避現實等等原因而吸毒。 I:你認為吸你認為吸毒對青少年的成長有什麼不良的影響? K:吸毒對青少年的成長造成的影響可謂十分深遠,輕則引致記憶力衰退,抽搐,抑鬱失眠,食慾不 振等等；重則造成心臟衰竭, 肝臟和賢臟受損及中毒性神經系統損害, 這絕對對青少年的成長 造成極度不良的影響。 I:你認為校園驗毒計劃可否有效減少吸毒青年的人數? K:我不能說完全沒有成效, 但成效不會很好。主因是校園驗毒計劃是自願參加, 根本不能通過 這個計劃找出一些真正的吸毒青年。若這個計副劃轉為強制性的成效會更高。 I:你認為政府可以怎樣向青少年宣揚反吸毒的信息? K:方法有很多如製作更多關於禁毒的影片, 推行強制性校園驗毒計劃等等都可以向青少年宣 揚反吸毒。不過要向青少年宣揚反吸毒的信息, 家長對青少年的影響比政府以任何方式去宣揚 更好, 因此, 家長應負責向青少年宣揚反吸毒的信息，減低青少年吸毒的機會。 I: 我今日的訪問就此完畢, 再次感謝你願意抽空接受我的訪問。 K:不用了, 再見。

39