The same figures apply to the teenagers who have tried drugs at least once. Heroin, often stated as the most frequently abused drug is, amongst the young, just one of a cocktail of 13,'' Dr. Day said. Heroin is only the third most popular drug used by known drug abusers among students. Dr. Day also concludes that their knowledge about the safety, or danger, of drugs is ''very weak''. When it comes to ' ' drugs '', however, Hong Kong's youngsters could be turning into a generation of pill poppers .
Teenagers make frequent visits to the doctor.
Just over one third had taken medication at least once in the week of the survey and Chinese children were much more likely to be on prescriptions . Chinese medicine was not the most popular treatment among either Chinese or expat children. While the survey reveals an apparently more than adequate diet, Dr. Day noted with surprise that a quarter of the children are taking vitamins. The use of pain killers was also a point for concern - 26 per cent of local Chinese students are using pain killers more than once a week. In the international school sample, the corresponding figures were a little lower.