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Friday, December 1, 1972
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT'S METHADONE PROGRAMME BEGINS
The Medical and Health Department's methadone maintenance programme
begins today when the first patients arrive at the pilot methadone study centre
in Eastern Street, Sai Ying Pun, for clinical assessment.
They are expected to remain as in-patients for about two to three
weeks, and will have to undergo simple laboratory examinations.
Eventually they will be put on methadone, to be taken orally in a
mixture of fruit cordial. When they are well-established and maintained on
the drug, they will be discharged from the centre, and the second phase of the
programme will begin, with the addict coming daily as an out-patient for a dose.
Dr. G.H. Choa, Director of Medical and Health Services, says: "This
phase of the treatment is intended to help the patient remain in gainful
employment. His daily call at the centre will not impede or hinder his
re-integration into society, his immediate family, his employers, and friends.
"Methadone will block his craving for heroin, The dosage planned
will not induce euphoria. While admittedly a substitute drug, methadone will
spare the patient the harmful, anti-social side effects of heroin,"
Dr. Choa believes the daily attendance at the centre "need not be
permanent." This means that, depending on progress made and the degree of
confidence established, arrangements are possible at some future date that would
permit patients on the programme to take a small supply home for daily use.
The Medical and Health Department's methadone maintenance programme is
planned to last three years, and is expected to cover a total of 550 patients.
/The programne