香港政府
GIS 新聞處
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
Sunday, March 4, 1973
GOOD RESPONSE TO METHADONE TREATMENT SCHEMES
Over 140 Addicts Now Receiving Daily Doses
Since the two methadone maintenance pilot schemes started three
months ago, there has been an encouraging response from drug addicts,
according to officials conducting the studies.
One scheme is operated by the Medical and Health Department
Hong Kong Island and the other is run by the Discharged Prisoners Aid
Society in Kowloon.
on
Up to now, a total of 143 drug addicts have volunteered for and
completed treatment and are receiving daily doses of methadone.
The programmes involve the controlled use of methadone to help
drug addicts give up heroin, thus allowing them to return to normal social,
family and work life.
admitted.
As the two schemes are study programmes, only male addicts are
Women addicts are not included because their numbers are relatively
small in proportion to male addicts. Also the effects of methadone on
women, particularly those who are pregnant, are not known for certain.
Studies of the effect of methadone on pregnant women have been
carried out in different countries but the results of methadone on the unborn
fetus are still inconclusive and opinions differ.
While
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