The future of Hong Kong's anti-drugs campaign: Prospective practitioners' views on engaging in drug abuse work, attitudes toward young drug users and satisfaction with drugs education

In the past decade, there has been growing concern about the rise of substance abuse,particularly among young people, in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government hasadopted a holistic approach to tackling this problem. Social workers from governmentdepartments and non-governmental organizations, hospitals that deliver treatmentprograms for drug abusers, and primary and secondary schools have all been enlisted toprevent drug abuse and rehabilitate drug abusers. Looking toward the future, the nextgeneration of social workers, health care workers, and teachers must be equipped to dealwith the increasing challenges of drug abuse. This chapter provides an overview of thedrug abuse problem in Hong Kong and the preventative and treatment services that areavailable. A recent exploratory study that measured the intentions of college majors (N =721) in social work, nursing, and education to engage in drug abuse work, their attitudestoward drug users, and their satisfaction with the drug education provided by theirrespective institutions is also reported. The results of this study indicated that social workmajors have the greatest intention to engage in drug abuse work and that their attitudestoward drug users are most positive. Conversely, teaching majors have the least intentionto engage in drug abuse work, are more negative toward young drug users, and are leastsatisfied with the education and training provided by their institutions. The views of theseprospective practitioners provide insight on how substance abuse treatment will takeshape in the near future in Hong Kong.