The number of reported drug abusers in the first half of this year in Hong Kong decreased 8 percent year-on-year to 3,025, but narcotics officials have expressed concern over an emerging trend of a drug called "space oil" abused by people under 21.

According to figures from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse published on Friday, the number of reported young drug abusers aged under 21 increased from 394 to 452 when compared with the same period in 2023.

Among these reported young drug abusers, nearly 75 of them used "space oil", which has become the third most common type of drug abused by people under 21 for the first time, showed the data.

The most common type of drugs abused in the first half of 2024 were heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, which is known as “ice”, while people under 21 mostly took cannabis and cocaine.

Dr Donald Li, chairman of the Action Committee Against Narcotics, said "space oil" is a name drug dealers created in order to sugar-coat drugs with devious tactics.

It is a kind of liquid with harmful substances added illegally. Although there is no standard formula, it usually contains an anesthetic called etomidate, which can only be prescribed by a doctor, he explained.

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"Space oil" may also be mixed with other drugs, including cannabis, "ice" and ketamine, which can cause serious physical and mental harm, including addiction, memory loss, seizures, unconsciousness, and even death, he cautioned.

"I urge young people to be more vigilant against 'space oil', and they should never try this emerging drug out of curiosity. Otherwise, they will lose their health, their prospects, and even their precious lives.”

Expressing concern over the emerging trend of "space oil" abuse, the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau said it had adopted the committee’s suggestions and launched education and publicity initiatives targeting "space oil", including writing to all primary schools and secondary schools in Hong Kong and organizing an exchange session for frontline social workers.

The Narcotics Division is also stepping up promotion and released an animated video in August to remind the public about the harmful effects of "space oil". Together with relevant government departments and social welfare service organizations, it will meet the education sector on Oct 8 to further raise awareness among teaching staff of "space oil".

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The government said law enforcement agencies will also step up patrols, carry out intelligence-based law enforcement actions and continue to spare no effort to combat crimes relating to "space oil".

According to the figures from law enforcement agencies, the number of arrests for drug offenses in the first half of 2024 dropped 10 percent when compared with that of 2023, while the number of young arrestees aged under 21 decreased 32 percent.

While for court cases concluded for the same period, the conviction rate of people being prosecuted for drug offenses was nearly 90 percent, added the data.