Crack and Kong

The final assignment for my journalism class was a feature article. I wanted to profile a rich, successful, normal marijuana user as an alternative to the catch-all "Drugs Are BAD!" policies of Hong Kong. However, since I waited until three days before this journalism assignment was due, I had to piece together a somewhat lacking and certainly broader piece on drug usage and drug policy. Surprisingly, wealthy investment bankers don't want to talk about their drug habits to students with voice recorders... After agonizing over what clever, insightful words I wanted to use to entitle this piece, I landed on "Hong Kong's Drug Policy." So, enjoy.

The Beauty of the Game, a new show on TVB Jade Channel in Hong Kong, plays like a Chinese version of the American HBO hit Entourage, a show that depicts a young superstar actor and his buddies from New York navigating the quintessential Hollywood lifestyle: attending movie premiers, partying with all the big names of Los Angeles, and basking in fame and fortune. In a similar fashion, The Beauty of the Game is a drama about young actresses grappling with their careers in the Hong Kong entertainment industry. But, unlike Entourage, this show isn’t just trying to entertain. Hong Kong’s newest television drama is funded and produced by the Hong Kong Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau and the Action Committee Against Narcotics. It is one of the government’s latest moves in a series of initiatives designed to address rising youth drug use in Hong Kong. And, just as every television series begets devoted fans and adamant critics, the anti-drug initiatives are drawing both praise and skepticism.

Depicting the demise of seemingly normal young adults at the hands of drug use on broadcast television is just the latest in a breadth of actions by the Hong Kong government targeting a reduction in drug abuse, especially among youths. “Juvenile drug abuse has become serious in Hong Kong,” Chief Executive Donald Tsang said in a recent address to local parents. A report by the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) states that the makeup of drug users is becoming younger. According to the CRDA’s report, the proportion of under-21 drug users has increased by 24% between 2004 and 2008. Further, schools are becoming the locale of drug use, with usage at schools increasing by 135% across the same cited time period.

Hong Kong clearly hasn’t been ignoring the latest statistics. “The Government has geared up law enforcement activities to curb the supply of drugs,” Mr. Tsang said. Alongside more banal measures like an anti-drug music video and anti-drug text messaging competition at a recent concert, one of the most contentious programs being implemented in Hong Kong is a voluntary “Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing” in the Tai Po school district to “tackle the problem of hidden drug use,” according to Mr. Tsang.

Contrary to Mr. Tsang’s suggestions, the seriousness and frequency of youth drug use in Hong Kong is not a recently developed problem, nor is the idea of drug testing Hong Kong students a recently developed solution, according to twenty-seven-year-old Amanda Chen, whose name has been altered at her request. International schools were implementing random, mandatory drug tests during her days of attendance, although she was never tested personally. And, the program didn’t have the desired impact. “I didn’t care that there was mandatory drug testing at school. The kids that wanted to use drugs used them,” she said.

Ms. Chen worked in marketing for a prominent Hong Kong magazine until she was laid off in February. I met her at a local hair salon, where her hairdresser does double-duty as her drug dealer. “Marijuana is my drug of choice. I can’t handle ecstasy anymore, that used to be my favorite. I’m too old now, my body can’t handle it.” Although Ms. Chen said she was a “late-bloomer” when it came to using drugs (she didn’t start until the age of 17), she found herself immersed in a culture of drug use since secondary school. “When I was sixteen, my aunt asked me if I knew anyone who didn’t use drugs. My honest answer was none,” she said.

Although Ms. Chen uses drugs, she thinks “the age at which children are beginning to experiment with drugs is definitely a problem.” She added, “I used to go raving. I would take “E” (ecstasy) and go to giant parties. Some of the girls there couldn’t have been older than twelve or thirteen. It was shocking, but what can you do?”

Later, she noted that she wasn’t opposed to voluntary drug testing initiatives. But, her and many others have concerns over the potential effectiveness of the government’s policies. Her hairdresser cum dealer James, who requested that his last name be withheld, chimed in that “the program is useless! Unless students are compelled to test, there is no point in spending money on this.”

The program also drew the attention of a prominent professional organization. The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists issued a strident criticism of the proposed voluntary drug-testing campaign. In a written statement, Dr Lam Cheung said, “There is a dearth of data on the effectiveness of school-based drug testing as a means of combating psychoactive substance abuse and its potential harm.” Concerns range from privacy and confidentiality to cost and effectiveness. Dr Lam Cheung goes on to say that “because it is a voluntary program, active drug users may simply refuse to be tested.” He added, “It is well established that the window for detecting most drugs of abuse is 72 hours or less.” As a result, a student can temporarily delay a drug test in order to ensure a negative test result, before resuming drug use. So far, the government has reported that 61 percent of eligible students have enrolled in the testing program. “That leaves 40% of the population that may be active drug users who will never be tested,” wrote Dr Lam Cheung.

Another concern with the government’s policies arises from the one-size-fits-all approach to drug abuse. Nicole Fung, a professional piano teacher, used to sell marijuana with her ex-boyfriend. She spent her days teaching piano and her nights driving across the city delivering to customers. She likens marijuana usage to legal drugs like tobacco and alcohol and believes there should be a distinction in public policy between marijuana and harder drugs. “The people who we sold to all had jobs. They were normal, working people, not scary, not addicts. But, marijuana and heroine are both treated as the same thing,” she said, adding, “I don’t think it is fair to punish and treat possession of marijuana the same as harder drugs.”

Ms. Fung touches on a point that resonates with many critics of drug policies. Reports on the harmfulness or addictiveness of marijuana are hard to come by. Alcohol is reported as having a higher rate of addiction than marijuana. Yet, Hong Kong remains adamant in refusing to parse drugs into categories. At the premiere for The Beauty of the Game, Principal Assistant Secretary for Security, Eric Lee, said, “There is still misunderstanding about drugs despite concern from all sectors of the community. Some people think drugs can be categorized as ”soft” and “hard.” … It is necessary to enhance our publicity and preventive education efforts so that the public will understand there is no distinction between “soft” and “hard” drugs. They should never try!”

Hong Kong’s catchall, abstinence-based approach to drug use is reminiscent of United States President Ronald Reagan’s infamous “Just Say No!” anti-drug education program. Started in the 1980s, Reagan’s program funded billions in educational programming and literature, spanning from car bumper stickers to posters to guest speakers in schools. Unfortunately, the program quickly became synonymous with wasteful spending and lacking results, rather than declining youth drug usage. In fact, a study by the University of Michigan to track the success of the program found marked increases in youth drug use over a ten-year period. The failure in President Reagan’s ambitious program was attributable to the very same concerns being raised about Hong Kong’s anti-drug campaign.

The absence of nuance in the government’s approach to drug enforcement and education percolates into related sectors of public policy such as rehabilitation and treatment. Hong Kong publishes myriad literature on drug use. One bright green leaflet implores: “Be free. Illicit drugs are all addictive. It is extremely difficult to quit drugs. Be free. Don’t even try drugs for once.” Obvious issues in syntax aside, Ms. Chen expressed concern over the nature of the dialogue. “I think it is important to bring drug use and addiction into the open, and I’m okay with public service announcements,” Ms. Chen said, but added, “Something like this reflects poorly upon the government. Any student with exposure to drugs isn’t going to take this seriously. … Not all drugs are addictive.” Ms. Chen asked, “How can the students trust the government’s message when it is so uneducated?”

Those who work in the treatment community have also expressed concern over their preparation and ability to provide adequate care to addicts and drug abusers. Herman Chung-Shing, a member of the Social Welfare committee, expressed concern that “the amount and type of preparation amongst the medical community responsible for providing youth drug abuse treatment is not enough.” He added, “We need to train more doctors on how to treat children struggling with drugs.”

Chief Executive Tsang acknowledged a need for dialogue, saying, “Prevention of drug abuse begins at home.” But the “Not Once. Not Ever.” educational program leaves little room for a productive exchange between students and their parents, teachers, and social workers. Ms. Fung is concerned over a lack of addiction and counseling services for existing drug users, and feels the policies address prevention, but not treatment. “The program might work for someone who has never tried drugs,” Ms. Fung said, but added, “What about all of us who have already started? I don’t feel there is anyone students can turn to to ask for help.” Hong Kong’s motives are admirable. But, if you find yourself addicted to watching all the latest episodes of The Beauty of the Game, consider the many other addicts who aren’t watching.