Commissioner for Narcotics Kesson Lee on Wednesday said abusers of space oil are mainly young people, being as the illegal drug is cheap and easy to conceal.

During the first quarter of this year, 191 space oil drug cases were recorded, which amounted to 64 percent of the figure for the whole of last year.

On an RTHK radio programme, Lee said 70 percent of the users were below 21, with most aged between 16 and 18.

"The space oil drug is relatively cheap and easy to conceal. These two characteristics make it easier to access. Why would I say it's easy to conceal? Because in the past, other drugs would require apparatus for inhaling," he said.

"But as the space oil drug is inhaled through vapes, it's very easy to conceal. With etomidate being the ingredient for the drug, the drug effect comes and goes quickly."

Lee said that as of the end of April, police officers had arrested 54 people with the help of test strips.

The commissioner also said he aims to allow schools to adopt test kits for the drug in the next academic year.

Leo Man from the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups told the same show that more young people are taking the drug.

He said that while listing etomidate as a dangerous drug has had a significant deterrent effect, it has also led to more abusers using it in secret.