“Investing in Prevention”

KELY Support Group has been dedicated to youth wellbeing in Hong Kong since our establishment in 1991. We are committed to seeing young people reach their full potential, and the latest drug use trends among young people in our city concern us greatly.

 

Government statistics are showing a decline in substance abuse among youth, but our on-the-ground experience tells a different story. Through our drug education programmes, we reach over 7,000 secondary school students annually. Around 30% of these young people indicate that they have people in their lives who have used drugs or abused alcohol. This figure suggests the problem remains pervasive, despite official reports.

 

In addition, we are also seeing some of the largest drug busts in Hong Kong's history in recent years showing a persistent availability and demand for illicit substances. In a society already grappling with rising mental health challenges, this is a deeply worrying trend with far-reaching consequences.

 

The impact of youth substance abuse extends far beyond the individual. It places immense strain on families, as they struggle to support loved ones suffering from addiction. And for society at large. Financial and social costs are staggering from healthcare expenditures, lost productivity, and community safety issues.

 

Underlying this crisis is a profound and persistent stigma around mental health and addiction in Hong Kong. While the city is starting to make progress in recognizing the mental health needs of young people, there is still a long way to go. Substance abuse, in particular, remains a deeply taboo subject. Many still look at it as a moral failing rather than the mental health condition it truly is. This stigma is a major barrier preventing young people from seeking help when they need it. Instead of being celebrated for their courage, they are often shamed and ostracized. and almost forced to suffer in silence until their condition spirals into a full-blown crisis.

 

That is why, this World Drug Day, KELY Support Group is calling for a renewed, evidence-based focus on prevention - one that starts with fostering a culture where early help-seeking for addiction is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness.

 

Research shows that for every dollar invested in prevention programmes, ten dollars are saved down the line. Yet this long-term, complex work is often overlooked in favour of reactive, short-term solutions and costly rehabilitative work. The data is plain and simple, and it is up to us to make smart, strategic investments in protecting our young people.

We suggest three key approaches to building a future free from the devastating grip of substance abuse: empowering trusted adults to model healthy behaviours, providing early intervention, and equipping youth with positive coping mechanisms. By taking a proactive, holistic approach that tackles the root causes, we can prevent the tragedies that tear families and communities apart.

 

But we cannot do this alone. We urge policymakers, funders, and the wider community to join us in this critical effort. Only through a coordinated, multi-stakeholder strategy can we truly address the complex, interconnected drivers of youth substance abuse in Hong Kong. This means establishing a cross-sectoral task force to prioritize and align prevention efforts and share best practices in addition to our usual rehabilitation goals. It means increasing the funding pot for evidence-based programmes run by trusted community organizations. It means integrating substance abuse efforts into broader youth development initiatives focused on mental health, life skills, and positive coping mechanisms. Above all, it means destigmatising addiction and viewing it as a treatable mental health condition, and not a moral failing.

 

The time to act is now. Together, we can build a future where seeking help for addiction is seen as a courageous first step, not a source of shame. A future where every young person in Hong Kong has the support they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives, free from the devastation of substance abuse.

 

This morning, I'd like to dedicate " When we stand together" by Nickelback

to everyone who's going through a tough time and facing challenges in their lives.