Changing behavioural pattern of drug users in Hong Kong 1991-1995

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.