Hong Kong kids as young as nine found doing drugs, study finds

A recent survey conducted by the Hong Kong Christian Service, which provides drug rehabilitation services, has found local kids as young as nine years old doing drugs.

The group interviewed 304 drug users from September to November this year and found that the average age of first-time drug use among respondents was 19.5 years, with the youngest being just nine years old. Nearly half of the respondents admitted to trying drugs before the age of 18.

The survey also found that some 49 percent of them obtained drugs through friends or classmates, highlighting the influence of peer relationships in drug access.

The most commonly abused substances included marijuana, ketamine, and cocaine, with 8.6 percent of the respondents admitting to having used the newly emerging drug known as “space oil”.

The survey, meanwhile, pointed out that almost 80 percent of respondents consumed drugs at their own or friends' homes, raising concerns about the increasing trend of young drug users becoming more discreet, especially with the emergence of “space oil.”

Separately, more than half of the surveyed individuals waited for around three to eight years before seeking drug rehabilitation services, with nearly half already experiencing various health issues such as depression, irritability, and sleep disorders. Alarmingly, 15 percent of respondents had not sought any form of drug rehabilitation assistance.

Some individuals believed they could quit drug use on their own, while a significant portion did not perceive any negative impacts from their drug use, hence failing to seek help.

Psychiatrist Wong Sun Ming warned that adolescent drug use could heighten the risk of long-term mental health issues, while substances like "space oil" could negatively impact the brain development of children and teenagers.

He called on members of the public to adopt a supportive approach towards drug users and also emphasized the importance of early professional intervention.