HEALTH
Overall Strategy and Co-ordination The government has a comprehensive anti-drugs programme which has achieved considerable success. The programme adopts a four-pronged approach, namely law enforcement, treatment and rehabilitation, preventive education and publicity, and international co-operation. Effective law enforcement induces addicts to seek treatment voluntarily as a result of short supply of drugs. Treatment and rehabilitation are undertaken by government and a number of voluntary agencies which offer a wide range of facilities to meet the different needs of drug abusers from varying backgrounds. The effectiveness of these treatment programmes reduces the demand for illicit drugs. At the same time, the government places great emphasis on preventive education and publicity to heighten public awareness of the drug problem and to promote the advantages of a drug-free lifestyle. Co-operation at the international level, through exchange of information and experience and joint action against illicit trafficking, enhances the effectiveness of efforts in these three areas.
These efforts are co-ordinated by the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN), a non-statutory body which includes both non-official and government members. The committee is the government's advisory body on all anti-drugs policies and actions undertaken by government and non-government agencies. It is serviced by the Narcotics Division, which is headed by the Commissioner for Narcotics.
Legislation and Law Enforcement
The Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department seized some 23 kilograms-of No. 3 heroin, 87 kilograms of No. 4 heroin, 162 kilograms of cannabis, 72 kilograms of methylamphetamine (or 'Ice') and 9 kilograms of cocaine during the year. These included the three largest seizures of drugs ever made 5 kilograms of cocaine and 40 kilograms of methylamphetamine in August and 30 kilograms of cannabis resin in September. Following joint operations with overseas law enforcement agencies, a number of international drug trafficking syndicates were neutralised with substantial quantities of dangerous drugs seized and ringleaders arrested locally and abroad. In 1991, police and customs action resulted in about 7 800 arrests for drug offences.
In view of the increasing number of young persons abusing psychotropic substances, all benzodiazepines which are liable to abuse were included in the First Schedule to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance to subject them to stricter controls.
During the year, bilateral agreements had been concluded with 10 foreign jurisdictions with a view to enhancing international co-operation, particularly as regards the tracing and confiscation of the proceeds of drug trafficking.
Treatment and Rehabilitation
The voluntary methadone treatment programme operated by the Department of Health provides both maintenance and detoxification for out-patients. Methadone maintenance is designed to reduce or eliminate an addict's reliance on heroin or other opiate drugs, while the detoxification programme aims to eliminate dependence on any drug. The programme has proved to be very effective in serving both addicts and the community. There are 25 methadone clinics.
The largest voluntary in-patient treatment programme is run by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA) which operates an in-patient treatment
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