HEALTH
Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 1972 Protocol and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, have already been extended to the territory,
The Royal Hong Kong Police and the Customs and Excise Department seized some 446 kilograms of heroin, 3 329 kilograms of cannabis, 123 kilograms of methamphetamine and nine kilograms of cocaine during the year. 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 1994, police and customs action resulted in the arrest of 15 601 persons for drug offences.
Treatment and Rehabilitation
The Action Committee Against Narcotics continued its efforts to improve public acceptance of the methadone maintenance programme, the objectives of which are often misunder- stood. As narcotic addiction is a chronic relapsing medical condition, the value of the methadone treatment programme is that it enables patients to adopt a normal and economically productive lifestyle, free from the health hazards and criminal activity associated with illicit drug use. Quick cash crimes to buy heroin are reduced when methadone is taken. This benefits the ordinary citizen, who can have less fear for his life and property, and keeps money out of the hands of drug traffickers. A reduction in the injecting of heroin due to the substitution of oral methadone means less sharing of needles. This slows the spread of blood-borne diseases, including AIDS, which can be passed from drug users to * the general population. Less injecting also means fewer syringes discarded in public places
and a better environment for everyone.
A training course on the prevention of drug abuse and HIV infection for participants from China, Hong Kong and Macau was held in August at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with financial assistance from the World Health Organisation and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme.
Preventive Education and Publicity
The government and the community continued to promote anti-drug preventive education and publicity. The anti-drug publicity campaign in 1994 focused on encouraging young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and to say 'no' to all drugs; educating them on the building up of self-esteem and confidence; and helping them to resist temptation from their peers. At the same time, parents were reminded of their responsibility to guide their children away from drugs.
Eleven district campaigns were held, involving the community through carnivals, variety shows, competitions and exhibitions.
The Narcotics Division's school talk team gave 318 drug education talks to 81 789 students in 224 primary and secondary schools and technical institutes. Talks were also organised for members of youth organisations, parents and juvenile offenders at the boys' and girls' homes operated by the Social Welfare Department.
To better equip prospective teachers, in-service teachers and social workers to cope with the issue of drug abuse, a series of drug education workshops were organised for in-service teachers and students of the Hong Kong Institute of Education, and a territory-wide seminar was held for social workers.
187