Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

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Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region 22 2 .3 .7 Australia’s involvement Project title Donor Implementing agency Duration Project focus Start/end year Budget $US Geographical areas Five AFP liaison officers AFP Beijing (2), Hong Kong (3) Xingjang HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project China Integrated Development Program 2 .3 .8 International involvement AusAID HIV in China 2004–2007 $15 million AusAID HIV in China Sept 2004 – Aug 2005 Project title Donor Implementing agency Duration Project focus Start/end year Budget $US Geographical areas HIV Prevention Trials Johns Hopkins Guangxi Center for 4 years Research Network (HPTN) University (via NIH) HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Peer Driven Intervention ABT Associates Guangxi Center for 2 years Intervention, research Guigang City among IDU project (via NIDA) HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Cohort development Johns Hopkins Guangxi Center for 5 years Research University (via NIH) HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control $87,000 23 Country summaries: China
Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region 24 2 .4 Hong Kong Population: 6,855,125 2 .4 .1 Overview of recent drug trends In 2003, heroin was still the drug of choice but there has been a decline in its popularity . Hong Kong has witnessed a rise in the use of psychotropic substances over the last decade with ketamine, triazolam/midazolam, cannabis, ‘ecstasy’ and methamphetamine commonly used . The proportion of polydrug use has been on the increase . The use of tranquillisers was common among drug users; among heroin users, they were commonly consumed to prolong the effects of the narcotics and to ease withdrawal symptoms . 2 .4 .2 Prevalence of drug use In 2004, the number of drug users registered with the Central Registry of Drug Abuse was 14,714, a 6 .3 per cent fall from the 15,708 registered in 2003 — the lowest in the past decade . In 2000, the estimated number of drug users was calculated, through the indicator dilution formula, to be 36,384 . A study in 2004 reported the estimated number of injecting drug users ranged from 13,000 to 40,000 with a mid-range figure of 26,999 . 2 .4 .3 Drug supply Hong Kong’s role as a transit and transhipment point for large consignments of drugs from Southeast Asia to the international market has diminished considerably over the years, largely as a result of its law enforcement efforts and because of alternative drug trafficking routes through Southern China . Heroin smuggled into Hong Kong is reported now to be mainly for the local market . Much of the heroin entering Hong Kong originates from the Golden Triangle, often transported through the provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi, with some drugs making their way towards Guangdong Province, where they are commonly stockpiled . Methamphetamines are similarly transported to Hong Kong following the same route as the heroin trade . Air transport is the favoured route for the smuggling of drugs from distant countries, such as ecstasy from Europe and cocaine from South America . Bulky drugs such as cannabis (often transported from the Golden Triangle or Cambodia) are more likely to use sea routes, utilising the extensive maritime traffic in the waters surrounding Hong Kong . 2 .4 .4 Drug-taking practices, risk factors and trends Data from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse in 2003 found, among the heroin users, that injection was the preferred method (54 .9%), followed by fume inhalation (42 .3%) and smoking (14 .4%) . Participants recruited from methadone clinics found that, of the 668 subjects, 51 .2 per cent injected; of 351 clients, 14 .8 per cent had shared injecting equipment at one stage, and of this percentage 20 per cent had done so in the past three months . Of the 686 participants, 78 (11 .4%) had injected drugs in mainland 2 .4 .5 Summary table China; of this group, 23 clients had done so within the last three months . The rate of injecting equipment sharing over the years has declined and current sharing may be a result of complacency among IDUs towards the high risks associated with sharing and/or the continuing low incidence of HIV infections among IDUs . However, it is important to note the proportion of HIV infections among drug users has increased from not more than 3 per cent before 1998 to 10 per cent in 2003 and 2004 . Testing for hepatitis C showed a prevalence of 46 per cent in 2001 . Sexual risk behaviours of drug users were not identified in the research . Estimated number of current drug users 36,384 (2001) — updates not available Main drugs used Heroin, ecstasy, methamphetamine, ketamine, cocaine, cannabis, cough mixtures, solvents Drugs injected Heroin Estimated prevalence of Proportion of HIV infections among drug HIV infection among IDUs users has increased from 3% (1998) to 10% (2003–04) 25 Country summaries: Hong Kong
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Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

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