CHINA
OCT 1ST 73
1
Drug blockade: addicts turn to methadone
By Michael Chugani
WITH dwindling heroin supplies in Hongkong forcing scores of addicts to seek methadone treatment, the official nod has been given to expand the scheme.
HILK1913
There is already a waiting list of nearly 300 addicts clamouring to receive treatment.
Medical and Health officials will accept the 300 and all voluntary patients who apply in the next two years.
Narcotics officials say the shortage of heroin follows the arrest of "Golden Triangle” opium king Lo Hsing han and his aide Sai Due.
Treatment
Huge drugs seizures followed their capture, resulting in dwindling supplies in Hongkong.
"Many are now seeking methadone treatment and there are plans to expand the pilot scheme." officials said.
A spokesman for the Medical and Health Department confirmed that expansion was planned but said that it was not because of the shortage of heroin and other drugs in the city.
"The original plan was to treat 550 patients in the three year pilot scheme which started on December last year and then evaluate the reults.” the spokesman said.
More money
"But we will reach this figure by the end of this month - only 11 months after the scheme started and there is a waiting list of 293. so the original target is no longer relevant.
"We have now decided to take in all those who apply between now and the end of the three year study.” he said.
The Finance Committee has agreed to supply more money for the scheme.
The aim of the study is to take addicts off "hard" drugs and on to methadone gradually taking them off methadone as well.
A similar scheme is being operated by Discharged Prisoners' Aid.