Background of Study

　　Funded by the Research Grants Council of the University Grants Committee, the Department of Sociology and Department of Psychology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of The University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with five social service agencies (including Hong Kong Children and Youth Services, North District Outreaching Social Work Team of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong, Boys' and Girls' Club Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Lutheran Social Services, and the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers) have conducted a study to examine the pattern of cross-boundary (Shenzhen) drug use of Hong Kong marginal youths, and the associated social and psychological factors of this pattern.

Methodology and Sample

　　The research design of the study was sample survey through face-to-face interviews with respondents using a standardized questionnaire. The sampling frame was composed of the lists of youths aged between 14 and 19 from nine institutions of the Correctional Services Department, four boys' and girls' homes of the Social Welfare Department, and the aforementioned five collaborating agencies. Data collection was carried out in November 2002 and ended in March 2003, just before the outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong. 504 marginal youths were successfully interviewed. It is believed that several months after the SARS outbreak, Hong Kong marginal youths' drug abuse in Shenzhen had gradually resumed to the pattern prior to the SARS outbreak.

　　Among the 504 respondents, 76% were male and 24% female. The mean age was 16.9 years. One-third (33%) of the respondents were having licit employments, 11% were involved in illicit jobs, and the remaining 56% were either still in school or unemployed.

Marginal Youths' Pattern of Drug Use in Shenzhen

　　In the 12 months prior to the interview, 72% of the respondents (362) had taken drugs in Hong Kong, and 44% (219) had used drugs in Shenzhen. One-fifth (20%) of the respondents had not taken any drugs in the past 12 months.

　　Among those who had taken drugs, 46% (183) had used drugs in Hong Kong only, 44% (179) had used drugs in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and 10% (40) had used drugs in Shenzhen only.

　　Among those who had taken drugs in Shenzhen (219), 80% were male whereas 20% were female. This sex ratio is similar to that of the whole sample.

　　Among those who had taken drugs in Shenzhen, 75% had used drugs occasionally (not more than three times a month), and 25% had used drugs once to six times a week. No respondents had used drugs on a daily basis.

　　Among those who had used drugs in Shenzhen, almost all of them (98%) consumed drugs at discos, and 25% also took drugs in hotels/inns, 13% in Karaoke lounges, and 11% in pubs.

　　The three most popular drugs consumed in discos in Shenzhen were ketamine (consumed by 89% of respondents who had used drugs in Shenzhen's discos), "ecstasy" (88%), and cannabis (54%). These were also the most popular drugs consumed by marginal youths in discos in Hong Kong.

Effects of Drug Use in Shenzhen on Frequency of Drug Use in Hong Kong

　　Among those who had taken drugs in Shenzhen (176), over two-thirds (68%) reported that their frequencies of drug use in Hong Kong had not been affected by their drug use in Shenzhen. Less than one-third (30%) reported that they had reduced their frequencies of, or even stopped, drug use in Hong Kong after they had consumed drugs in Shenzhen. Only 2% had increased their drug use in Hong Kong after drug use in Shenzhen.

Drug Use in Shenzhen in relation to Residential Location and Employment Status

　　Residential location seems related to drug use in Shenzhen. Among respondents who had used drugs in Shenzhen (219), about 80% lived in northern districts or along the railway such as Yuen Long, Shatin, Tai Po, Fan Ling, and Sheung Shui. Among those who only used drugs in Hong Kong (183), only one-quarter lived in these towns. Marginal youths living in areas close to Shenzhen or near the railway are more likely to have used drugs in Shenzhen.

　　Regarding employment status, among those who had used drugs in Shenzhen (213), one-quarter (25%) were students, 41% "out of school and out of work," and one-third (33%) working (among them, about 70% were having licit employments and 30% were taking up illicit jobs). Among those who had used drugs in Hong Kong only (179), only 19% were students and 24% were both out of school and out of work. The proportion of working respondents was 58% (among them, also about 70% were having licit employments and 30% taking up illicit jobs). Thus, it seems that marginal youths who were still in school or who were out of school but unemployed were more likely to go to Shenzhen for drug use.

Attraction of Drug Use in Shenzhen

　　Respondents who had used drugs in Shenzhen or Hong Kong tended to agree that the advantages of Shenzhen over Hong Kong as a venue for drug use included "lower probability of arrest," "greater availability of illicit drugs," "larger discos and better atmosphere," "cheaper and larger variety of drugs," and "feeling more relaxed outside Hong Kong."

　　Compared with those who had used drugs in Hong Kong only, those who took drugs in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen were more likely to believe that "the risk of being arrested for drug use in Shenzhen was lower", "availability of illicit drugs in Shenzhen was greater" and "discos in Shenzhen were larger and having better atmosphere.

Social and Psychological Factors Affecting Marginal Youths' Drug Use in Hong Kong or Shenzhen

　　Regardless of whether drugs were used in Hong Kong or Shenzhen, the most significant factor that affected drug use among marginal youths was "association with drug-using friends." The more drug-using friends a marginal youth has, the higher is his/her drug use frequency. Other factors in drug use included "insufficient family support and supervision," "poor past or present (if still in school) school performance," "low self-esteem," and "past trouble with law."

Concluding Remarks

　　More resources should be allocated to the creation of employment opportunities for marginal youths who have left school, the strengthening of family and school support/supervision for them, helping them to stay away from drug-using friends, and raising their self-esteem.

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