The number of reported young drug abusers under 21 dropped 22% from 1,288 to 1,005 in the first half of 2012, according to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse.

The Action Committee Against Narcotics held its quarterly meeting today to review the local drug situation in the first half of the year.

The total number of reported drug abusers dropped by 7.3% from 7,306 to 6,775, when compared to the same period last year.

A decline of 18.3%, from 1,788 to 1,460, was recorded in the number of newly reported drug abusers. There was also a drop of 20.9% in the number of newly reported young drug abusers under 21, from 697 to 551.

Among all reported drug abusers, heroin remained the most common type of drug. However, the total number of reported heroin abusers was 2.5% lower than that for the same period last year, from 3,907 to 3,808.

Ketamine was the most commonly abused type of psychotropic substance. The number of reported ketamine abusers was 19.4% lower compared to the same period last year, from 2,287 to 1,843. Among them, 33.2% were aged under 21.