. 2
Monday, August 21, 1972
The Medical and Health Department's scheme is to last three years.
It involves an intake of 150 addicts in the first year, and 200 in each
of the second and third years, making a total of 550 in the end.
Patients will come from the Central Registry of the Secretariat
for Home Affairs, the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts
(SARDA), and referrals from government clinics.
They will be limited to men in groups of 10 a time, who will be
given a dosage expected to last between 24 and 48 hours.
The dosage is a "blockade dose," that is, sufficient to block off
the craving for heroin.
The pharmacological effect of methadone has been well established,
and it is expected to work well among local addicts. But patients will
be tested through analysis of urine samples by modern equipment to find
out whether they are still taking the addictive drug while under treatment.
They will have to travel daily from their homes to the former mental
hospital in Sai Ying Poon, now being converted for this purpose. They will
be provided with travelling expenses, and where necessary, also with a meal.
The two pilot schemes are expected to provide information on four
points:
Whether among gainfully employed addicts, methadone is an effective treatment to achieve the elimination of heroin hunger and craving.
Whether among hardcore heroin addicts, successful social rehabilitation can be acheived for those participating in the maintenance programme.
The degree *****