170
HEALTH
therapeutic treatment agencies; counselling services for psychotropic substance abusers provided by PS33 of the Hong Kong Christian Service and SARDA, and six substance abuse clinics operated by the Hospital Authority.
During the year, considerable success was achieved in fostering public acceptance of drug-treatment facilities. Local support had been secured for the establishment of two new residential treatment centres for young opiate abusers. SARDA's Sister Aquinas Memorial Women's Treatment Centre was relocated from Sha Tin to North District in December 1996, with its capacity increased from 39 to 57 beds. A new counselling centre for psychotropic substance abusers in the New Territories, operated by Caritas-Hong Kong, commenced operation in July 1996. A new team of specially trained social workers was also set up to help at-risk youths who occasionally abuse drugs.
Preventive Education and Publicity
Anti-drug preventive education and publicity programmes in 1996 continued to focus on encouraging young people to develop healthy and positive attitudes and to say 'no' to all drugs; educating them on the building up of life skills; and helping young people to resist temptation from their peers. Programmes were also designed to foster a community-wide education and support effort to halt the growing trend in drug abuse by young people. During the year, 27 district campaigns were held, involving the community through visits, camps, seminars, carnivals, variety shows, competitions and exhibitions.
The Narcotics Division's school talk team gave 534 drug education talks to 113 076 students in 428 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.
A Drug Education Resource Centre was set up in March 1996 to support the implementation of drug education programmes in schools. A curriculum kit on drug education for primary schools was produced and distributed to schools at the end of the year.
To strengthen parents' awareness of the drug problem and to encourage them to steer their children away from drugs, the Education Department organised a roving exhibition and two seminars for Parent-Teacher Association executives during the year. Model programmes assisting schools to run parent education workshops and seminars on drugs were also developed.
To better equip prospective teachers, in-service teachers and social workers to cope with the issue of drug abuse, drug education workshops and courses were organised for them. A territory-wide seminar was also held for social workers.
A two-day exhibition disseminating anti-drug messages was held in June in support of the annual International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Nine radio shows were held during the year, reaching out to about 800 000 young people. The anti-drug message 'Say NO to Drugs' was applied as a post mark on all mail for two weeks from late June to early July. The message was also publicised through the Mass Transit Railway stored-value student tickets.
The ACAN
ACAN Community Against Drugs Scheme
Drugs Scheme continued to provide encouragement and grants of up to $6,000 to interest groups to plan and implement anti-drug education and publicity projects. It financed 21 projects. The ACAN Youth