Data were collected through personal interviews on admission. Most of those admitted were adults with an average age of 35 for males and 29 for females. Most were born in Hong Kong. The young addicts had more education than the adults. Ninety-seven percent of the youths and 62 percent of the adults were single. Sixty percent lived in government public housing, 26 percent in private housing, and 8 percent in temporary housing. Ninety-seven percent reported starting drug use because of curiosity or peer pressure. Forty-six percent began abusing drugs under the age of 21. Ninety-nine percent abused heroin, which has been the most common drug abuse for many years. Ninety percent of the adults and 73 percent of the youths had been convicted of drug law violations, while 8 percent of the adults and 21 percent of the youths had been convicted of property offenses. About 56 percent of the youthful addicts and 42 percent of the adults reported affiliations with gangs. Figures and tables