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G.F. 323
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0003230
CONFIDENTIAL
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42.
Proper control of factory made drugs will also be of importance. They are at present dealt with in the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, Chapter 138. This is designed primarily to control pharmacists and to regulate the sale of poisons, not to deal with the problems connected with the abuse of these drugs. Thought is now being given to its revision. A Bill to provide specifically for factory made drugs of abuse is envisaged.
TREATMENT
The Scale of the Problem
43.
The number of drug addicts in Hong Kong is not known, but may approach 100,000. In order to provide an accurate estimate of the total addict population here, a Central Register of Drug Addicts was opened in April 1972 in the Secretariat for Home Affairs.
By 1975 this should provide information giving for the first time a reliable guide to the true extent of the addict population here. Such a guide is, of course, essential if plans for treatment programmes are to be realistic in terms of the numbers involved.
Review of Treatment Facilities
44.
Hong Kong possesses treatment facilities for drug addiction which are as good as any in the world and better than most. However, their impact is limited because throughput is only about 3,000 a year with an overall relapse rate of the order of 70%. A real assault on the problem depends therefore on the development of a cure for opiate addiction suitable for application en masse at a reasonable cost. Two pilot projects have recently been started, to assess the value of using methadone in local circumstances. Preliminary indications are that those may point the way to such a cure.
If they do not, then other methods will be sought.
CONFIDENTIAL