Hong Kong recorded a 2 percent decrease in the number of drug addicts in 2025, authorities said on Tuesday as the city launched a new campaign against etomidate, which has become a favorite among young drug users.

Data from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse showed that the total number of reported drug addicts in the city decreased from 5,179 in 2024 to 5,077 last year, with heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine as the three most common types of drugs abused, the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) said.   

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The number of reported young drug addicts aged under 21 also decreased from 734 in 2024 to 698 in 2025, with 340 of them abusing etomidate, or "space oil drug".  

Etomidate became the most common type of drug abused among reported young drug addicts since the first quarter of 2025, followed by cannabis and cocaine.

"ACAN is deeply concerned about the rising number of reported etomidate abusers, which increased from 309 in 2024 to 615 in 2025, with about 55 percent of them being young drug abusers aged under 21,” said Donald Li Kwok-tung, ACAN chair.

He reminded the public that etomidate and all its analogues are dangerous drugs that cause serious physical and mental harm, and even death.

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According to data from law enforcement agencies, the number of persons arrested for drug offenses in 2025 increased by 27 percent to 4,108 from 3,243 in 2024.

The number of young arrestees aged under 21 also increased by 90 percent from 301 to 573 during the same period. Etomidate, cannabis and cocaine were the main drugs involved in these arrests.

As part of the city's ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse, a new anti-etomidate campaign was launched Tuesday, featuring iconic singer and performer Aaron Kwok Fu-shing, one of Hong Kong’s “Four Heavenly Kings”.

Besides having a new anti-drug publicity video, posters and banners bearing the slogans "Etomidate: Not once, not ever!" and "Listen to me: Let's stand firm. Knock drugs out!" have also been put up across major public transport facilities, prominent billboards, housing estates and other places to raise public awareness of the dangers of etomidate abuse.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said that the special administrative region government has adopted a stylish and positive campaign to encourage members of the public to proactively choose a healthy lifestyle and stay away from drugs.

Joining the campaign as the Honorary Anti-drug Commissioner, Kwok said that it is worrying to see young people abusing etomidate or taking part in its trafficking, either out of ignorance or greed.

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According to the court cases concluded in the last two years, the conviction rate of persons prosecuted for drug offenses was as high as 86 percent.

More than half of young offenders aged under 21 convicted for drug trafficking were sentenced to over five years in prison, and the longest prison sentence was over 20 years.