Drug abuse is a critical issue impairing social welfare, including health, family relations and social security in many societies. This study explores the demographic characteristics of drug abuse among sub-populations in Hong Kong as a developed and ageing society with large socioeconomic disparities. Significant changes in both the number and rate of drug abuse by drug type, age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic activity are documented from 1991 to 2016. Although narcotic analgesics are more common, stimulants and ketamine are growing popular in Hong Kong, especially among the youth. The number of elderly drug abusers is increasing due to the ageing population, whereas the rate of elderly drug abuse is actually stable or decreasing. In contrast, the drug abuse rate is increasing for the middle-aged and groups with lower education. The findings support social policies design to curb drug abuse and call for closer attention to these at-risk groups that are overlooked in Hong Kong.

吸毒是一個嚴重並廣泛存在的社會問題，有損個人健康、家庭關系和社會安全等社會福祉。香港是一個內部差異明顯的發達社會，面臨著毒品濫用和老齡化的壓力。 本研究分析香港毒品使用人群的長期人口統計特征。從1991年至2016年期間，按照藥物類型、年齡、性別、種族、教育程度和經濟活動等劃分的毒品使用人數和比例經歷了顯著的變化。盡管使用麻醉鎮痛藥物的情況十分普遍，但興奮劑和氯胺酮在香港愈來愈受歡迎，尤其是在青年群體中。人口雖然老化，老年吸毒者的人數不斷增加，但是其吸毒率是穩定的，甚至有下降趨勢。相對而言，中年人群和受教育程度較低的群體的毒品使用率持續上升。本研究可以支持與毒品使用相關的社會政策制定，並呼吁社會密切關注這些被忽視的風險群體。

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