Self-reflected causes of substance abuse among Hong Kong young addicts

Bibliographic Data

ID12893764
AuthorsC K Cheung (0000-0003-3278-1633, City University of Hong Kong), Jerf W K Yeung (0000-0003-3454-4543, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, corresponding author)
Year2007
Volume2
Issue1
Pages17-31
Publication date2007-03-15
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueVulnerable Children and Youth Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1745-0136 • E-ISSN: 1745-0128
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17450120701214103
OpenAlexW2016410687
LanguageEN
References cited40

Hong Kong is a place with an exceptionally low prevalence rate of youth substance abuse. Whether the low rate is attributable to the zero-tolerance policy promulgated by the government there is worth investigation. The manner of the investigation involves a contest of theoretical explanations of substance abuse among young people. For the zero-tolerance policy to claim success, formal regulation of substance availability and substance abuse would be a prominent inhibitor of substance abuse. This expectation receives support from a study of young substance addicts in Hong Kong. The Q methodology used in the study reveals that the lack of regulation would leave an opportunity for young people to attempt substance abuse. The availability of opportunity was more influential on substance abuse than were the calculation of costs and benefits and other factors. Hence, the zero-tolerance policy is justifiable for its higher effectiveness for deterring youth substance abuse

Addiction · CONTEST · Criminology · Government (linguistics · Political science · Psychiatry · Substance abuse · Zero tolerance · Law · Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors · Psychology · Q Methodology Applications · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub