Drug Abuse in Hong Kong : Development and Evaluation of a Prevention Program

Adolescent substance abuse is a growing concern in Hong Kong and there has been several peaks in adolescent substance abuse in the past two decades. In fact, these peaks mirrored the global trend of abusing non-opiate psychotropic substances and the growing belief among young people that psychotropic substance abuse is non-addictive and it is a trendy choice of life. Evidence-based practice is still very primitive in the fields of youth work and adolescent prevention in Hong Kong and there are many obstacles involved. This book examines how adolescent prevention and positive youth development programs can be developed in different Chinese contexts.

Daniel T. L. Shek, PhD, FHKPS, BBS, JP is chair professor of applied social sciences at the Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Hong Kong, PRC. He is also advisory professor of East China Normal University, PRC and adjunct professor at Kentucky Children's Hospital, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States. Rachel C. F. Sun, PhD is assistant professor at the Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC. Joav Merrick, MD, MMedSci, DMSc is professor of child health and human development affiliated with Kentucky Children's Hospital, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States and the Pediatric Division, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Centers, Jerusalem, Israel; the medical director of the Health Services, Division for Mental Retardation, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, Jerusalem, Israel; and the founder and director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Israel.