NCJ Number
139543
Date Published
1991
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report presents statistical data regarding the 1,631 persons admitted in 1991 to the compulsory drug addiction treatment center program operated by the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department. This figure represents a marginal decrease from the 1990 figure and the lowest figure recorded since 1980.
Abstract
The report focuses on the drug offenders' personal attributes and attainments, including age at admission, place of birth, education, and occupation. The findings show that the number of young persons between the ages of 14 and 20 admitted to the program increased by 20 percent over 1990 and accounted for 7 percent of total admissions. A large proportion of the offenders were born in Hong Kong; young drug dependents tended to be better educated than their adult counterparts; and male drug users were mostly production workers or laborers, while the females were employed in service or entertainment industries. Family particulars examined here include marital status and living arrangements, while environmental factors included in the report are district of residence and type of accommodation. The addiction process is examined in terms of causation, age at first drug consumption, drugs used, methods of using drugs, daily cost, procurement, and length of addiction. Finally, statistics on criminal histories are collected: age at first conviction, previous convictions, previous sentences, present offense, and gang affiliation. 25 tables and 7 figures