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Prevention of Drug Abuse Among Young People: A Conceptual Framework

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Student Well-Being in Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong

Part of the book series: Quality of Life in Asia ((QLAS,volume 7))

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Abstract

Recent research shows that the youth drug problem in Hong Kong is escalating. Ketamine is the most abused drug, followed by ecstasy, ice, cocaine, and cannabis. There are biological and psychological as well as sociological theories of drug use. Each theory provides a partial explanation for drug use and has important prevention, treatment, and policy implications. With the explanations provided by biologists, psychologists, and sociologists, an integrated model of factors contributing to adolescents’ use and abuse of psychotropic drugs is presented. Adopting an ecological and positive youth development perspective, the protective and risk factors against drug use will be discussed, with a specific focus on youth in Hong Kong. Finally, a set of guidelines for conducting anti-drug prevention with students will be presented.

The preparation for this work and the Project P.A.T.H.S. were financially supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

This paper is partially based on an article originally published by The Scientific World Journal: Lee, T. Y. (2011). Construction of an integrated positive youth development conceptual framework for the prevention of the use of psychotropic drugs among adolescents. The Scientific World Journal, 11, 2403–2417.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Tak Yan Lee & Diego Busiol

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  1. Tak Yan Lee
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  2. Diego Busiol
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Correspondence to Tak Yan Lee .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

    Tak Yan Lee

  2. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Hong Kong, China

    Daniel T.L. Shek

  3. The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China

    Rachel C. F. Sun

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Lee, T.Y., Busiol, D. (2015). Prevention of Drug Abuse Among Young People: A Conceptual Framework. In: Lee, T., Shek, D., Sun, R. (eds) Student Well-Being in Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong. Quality of Life in Asia, vol 7. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-582-2_2

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