I
NY
Sunday, March 4, 1973
After admission addicts are given a maintenance dose and this
is adjusted to a stabilising level on discharge.
The experimental scheme run by the Medical and Health Department
operates from the former mental hospital premises in western district. It
is a self-contained unit where patients are hospitalised, usually for about
10 days, and then checked out to return daily for their methadone.
The average age and years of addiction of addicts who have been
treated so far are 30 years and 10 years respectively.
"From the response it would appear that the scheme is proving popular
with those addicts who really want to get rid of their heroin addiction,"
said a spokesman.
Voluntary Participation
"Of course, there are a few who have tried but did not have the
courage and determination to see it through."
The unit now has 10 in hospital and a list of 100 waiting to be
admitted into the scheme.
Participation is entirely voluntary and treatment is free. During
the three-year study, the unit expects to treat 550 addicts. The cost to
government will be $2.1 million.
The scheme in Kowloon operates on a smaller scale and its study will
be confined to 100 addicts. The centre is in the Tung Tau Resettlement
estate and the medical unit in a nearby hospital.
/So far