Established in 1972, the CRDA provides relevant drug abuse statistics for monitoring changes in the drug abuse trends and characteristics of drug abusers to facilitate the planning of anti-drug strategies and programmes in Hong Kong.


Objective


The objectives of CRDA are:

  1. to identify trends of drug abuse and characteristics of the drug abusing population in Hong Kong, with reference to the demographic characteristics of the overall population;
  2. to coordinate statistics from various sources for analysing the characteristics of the reported addict population at any given time, and to contrast these characteristics among abusers reported from various sources;
  3. to provide a database which is responsive to requests for monitoring selected groups of drug abusers with regard to their drug abusing patterns over a period of time for research;
  4. to provide a basis for integrating with other drug-related statistical systems so that information in these systems can be captured and statistics related and compared; and
  5. to provide up-to-date statistics in a timely manner for dissemination to the public.

Methodology


The CRDA is a voluntary reporting system recording the details of drug abusers who have come into contact with and have been reported by the reporting agencies, including law enforcement agencies, treatment and welfare agencies, tertiary institutions, hospitals and clinics. By its nature, while CRDA does not measure the exact size of the drug abusing population in Hong Kong at any particular time, statistics derived therefrom are indicators of the trends of drug abuse over time, providing useful information on the latest drug situation in Hong Kong, and supporting an evidence-based approach to the formulation of anti-drug policy and allocation of resources for suitable anti-drug initiatives. The CRDA compiles and releases latest drug abuse statistics on a quarterly basis. All the reports published by the CRDA are statistical in nature and contain no information that could lead to any individual reported drug abuser being identified.

All information supplied in the CRDA record sheets is handled in strict confidence and is accessible only to those who are directly involved in the operation of the CRDA and relevant workers of reporting agencies, and all these personnel are required to observe the rule of confidentiality. The confidentiality of all records held by CRDA and its reporting agencies is safeguarded by the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Chapter 134) and the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Chapter 486).


Data confidentiality


Statutory protection to the confidentiality of all records maintained by the CRDA and reporting agencies is provided by the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO). The DDO stipulates that any person who discloses any record of confidential information which is kept by the CRDA or a reporting agency, or supplies to any person information obtained from any such record, or permits access to any such record, commits an offence.


Definition of drug abusers


For the purpose of CRDA reporting, a drug abuser refers to a person who has taken drugs/substances during the four weeks before the date of contact, and the drugs/substances taken harm or threaten to harm the physical or mental health or social well-being of an individual, in doses above or for periods beyond those normally regarded as therapeutic. Alcohol and tobacco are, however, not regarded as drugs abused. The drugs/substances of abuse are broadly classified into narcotics analgesics and psychotropic substances.


Contact us


The Central Registry of Drug Abuse, Statistics Unit
Security Bureau, Government Secretariat,
30/F, High Block, Queensway Government Offices,
66 Queensway, Hong Kong, China

Tel. No. : (852) 2867 1071
Fax No. : (852) 2537 2575
Email : sb_stat@sb.gov.hk