Government study on drug abuse to be ready in Oct 2021

The Macau SAR government is expecting to complete research on drug abuse in the city by October 2021, according to a statement released by the Social Affairs Bureau (IAS).
In June 2019, the IAS tasked the Asian Association for Substance Abuse Research to conduct a survey on drug abuse and the development of drug rehabilitation services in Macau.
The survey aimed to arrive at a clear understanding of drug abuse within Macau society and its causes, as well as at reexamining the city’s prevention measures on the issue.
According to the government’s central registration system of Macau drug abusers, the number of reported users in the first half of this year decreased by 37% compared to last year. The number of youth users is down by 26% in year-on-year terms.
In the first six months of 2020, the youngest recorded drug user was 16 years old and the oldest was 78 years old. The average age was 34 years old. Only one fifth of recorded users are females.
The records also reflected that more than half of drug users live in the northern district of the city. The consumption of drugs is also more common among those who hold a lower level of education. JZ