WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1974
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EXPERT'S ADVICE SOUGHT ON METHADONE TREATMENT
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ONE OF THE WORLD'S FOREMOST EXPERTS IN METHADONE TREATMENT WILL COME TO HONG KONG TOUARDS THE END OF THE YEAR TO HELP EVALUATE THE TWO PILOT METHADONE SUBSTITUTION PROJECTS NOW UNDERWAY.
THE EXPERT WILL ALSO HELP PLOT THE WAY AHEAD FOR METHADONE THERAPY AND ITS PROPER RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FORMS OF DRUG TREATMENT IN HONG KONG.
REVEALING THIS TODAY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, POINTED OUT THAT THE +RATHER ENCOURAGING+ RESULTS OBTAINED SO FAR FROM THE TWO PILOT PROJECTS +HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY CHECKED AND COMPARED WITH WHAT IS BEING DONE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.+
THE PILOT PROJECTS ARE BEING CONDUCTED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE DISCHARGED PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY. BOTH HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AND WILL CONTINUE FOR A FURTHER YEAR.
SIR MURRAY STRESSED THAT IN THE FIELD OF DRUG ADDICTION, THE GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE MUST BE +TO COUPLE THE MOST VIGOROUS AND RUTHLESS ATTACK ON THE MEANS OF SUPPLY OF DRUGS, WITH PROVISION OF A MEANS OF TREATMENT THAT CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE EN MASSE TO ADDICTS.+
+NOTHING BUT FRUSTRATION CAN RESULT FROM DENIAL OF THE DRUG WITHOUT OFFERING TREATMENT, OR FROM OFFERING TREATMENT WITHOUT DENYING THE DRUG, OR AT LEAST MAKING IT SO SCARCE AS TO BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE,+ HE ADDED.
HE NOTED THAT THERE WAS A GROWING SUCCESS IN THE ATTACK ON THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS THAT RESULTED BOTH FROM IMPROVED METHODS AT HOME AND BETTER LIAISON ABROAD.
BUT SIR MURRAY ADMITTED THAT THE MEANS OF TREATMENT PRESENTED AN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
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HOWEVER, IF THE TWO METHADONE PILOT PROJECTS WERE JUDGED SUCCESSFUL, THE GOVERNOR SAID, WE WILL HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL A THERAPY FOR ADDICTION THAT IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN PRESENT METHODS, NEED NOT INVOLVE INCARCERATION, AND CONSEQUENTLY CAN BE APPLIED EN MASSE AND WITH MINIMUM DISRUPTION OF AN ADDICT'S DAILY LIFE OR EARNING CAPACITY.+
SIR MURRAY CAUTIONED, HOWEVER, THAT THERE WERE MANY
* PITFALLS IN THIS FIELD.
+BEFORE WE LAUNCH OUT INTO THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR TREATMENT ON THE MASSIVE SCALE THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO HAVE REAL IMPACT, WE MUST BE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT WE WILL BE WORKING ALONG LINES THAT ARE OF PROVED RELIABILITY. HE STRESSED.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO THIS ISSUE BY THE COUNCIL AND SAID IT WAS A RELIEF TO HAVE ADVICE ON THE COMPLEX MEDICAL, SOCIAL AND POLICE ISSUES OF DRUG ADDICTION NOW CO-ORDINATED AND CENTRALISED THROUGH THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS UNDER THE VIGOROUS AND DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMANSHIP OF SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES.
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