Drug use up across the board this year

There were 8,657 drug abusers reported in the first half of this year, up 3.6 percent from the same period last year. The number of drug abusers under 21 rose 22.4 percent to 2,064, according to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse.

Heroin remained the most common type of drug abused, but the number of reported abusers, 4,643, was 3.8 percent lower than last year. The total number of psychotropic-substance abusers, 4,734, remained higher than heroin abusers.

Metal ring in stove found to increase carbon monoxide

People should stop using an unsafe metal ring its manufacturer claims saves energy when fitted to a flaming stove.

The Customs & Excise Department issued the warning Friday after testing the product. It said the carbon monoxide concentration released from the stove increased by three times in a few minutes, far exceeding the permissible safety limit.

Inhaling excessive carbon monoxide can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and death.

Earlier diagnosis, treatment of psychosis called for

Some patients diagnosed as psychotic may go untreated for more than three months, and that's valuable time that should be used to help ensure the patients' problems don't worsen, according to the Hong Kong Early Psychosis Intervention Society.

Recently, Harvard Medical School conducted an international study comprising 200 cases of psychosis, with 30 coming from Hong Kong. And in the local cases, the patients had often gone untreated for long periods.

More funding and support eyed to hone elite athletes

Sports experts have called for the Government and national sports associations to enhance financial, technical, educational and vocational support for elite athletes.

The Elite Sports Committee submitted its development report to the Home Affairs Bureau today, suggesting the allocation of additional resources to priority sports to enhance training programs and to identify and strengthen support for other competitive sports with development potential.

Mutual aid committees invited to apply for funding

Mutual aid committees are invited to apply for sponsorship of up to HK$20,000 under the Tin Shui Wai Neighborhood Mutual Help Scheme.

Each mutual aid committee can apply for sponsorship to organize events for the fiscal year 2008-09 to promote a closer and caring mutual help network in the neighborhood.

The Yuen Long District Office has sent letters detailing the scheme and application procedures to mutual aid committees in Tin Shui Wai.

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/27/2008 page1)