Hong Kong’s growing drug problem: Ice responsible for one in four psych patients at Tai Po hospital
Doctor says problem reflects growing usage of methamphetamine across Hong Kong due to increased supply
Methamphetamine or “Ice” was found to be the main reason why a quarter of psychiatric patients in a New Territories hospital suffered from serious conditions such as hallucination and delusions.
This problem in the Northern District reflected a growing citywide trend of “Ice” use due to a rise in supply, a doctor said.
“The trend is worrying,” Dr Dicky Chung Wai-sau, chief of psychiatry at Tai Po Hospital, said. “Other than the health impact, the family of the patients will also suffer a lot as they may have disruptive or even threatening behaviours.
“It will also increase the burden on the medical system and other social costs.”
Despite international efforts to crack down on the drug, other countries have also reported an alarming rise in the usage of “Ice”. Australia declared the situation a public health crisis this year with a tripling in the number of regular users since 2010.
In February, three Hongkongers and a mainland Chinese man were arrested in connection with the seizure of 720 litres of liquid methamphetamine valued at HK$7 billion – the largest in Australian history.
