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

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• Hong Kong
• opportunity theory
• psychoanalytical theory
• Q methodology
• rational choice theory
• social cognitive theory
• social control theory
• substance abuse