Monday, April 12, 1976
- 8
DRUG ABUSE DATA EXPERT TO VISIT HONG KONG
An expert in drug abuse data processing from New York will arrive
in Hong Kong tomorrow (Tuesday) to assist the Government in improving its
system of drug abuse data collection and processing.
The expert, Mr. B. Werbell, who is Swedish, is employed by the
New York City Council as the project manager of their Health Data Processing
Department. One of his main responsibilities is the management of the
New York City Register of Drug Addicts, which is the largest in the United
States outside Washington where a federal register is maintained.
In Hong Kong, Mr. Werbell will examine the data on drug addicts
currently produced by all Government departments and voluntary agencies
engaged in anti-narcotics work, and the system by which it is collected and
processed, In particular, he will study the operation of the Central
Registry of Drug Addicts, which was established four years ago.
At the conclusion of his study, Mr. Werbell will make a report to
the Secretary for Security on how the local addict population and its
characteristics can be more accurately determined, and on the ways of
monitoring the effectiveness of Hong Kong's treatment and rehabilitation
programmes.
Commenting on Mr. Werbell's consultancy, a Government spokesman
said this was another important step in Government's on-going effort to
fight drug abuse.
"Accurate statistical information about the number and the
characteristics of the local addict population will be invaluable in the
planning of all action programmes against narcotics," he said.
/Mr. Werbell's