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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1976
TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE FOR METHADONE DETOXIFICATION
PROGRAMME
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STARTING FROM MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 6), DRUG ADDICTS WHO WANT TO FIND OUT HOW TO JOIN THE EXISTING METHADONE DETOXIFICATION PROGRAMME CAN DO SO BY SIMPLY DIALLING A TELEPHONE NUMBER - 3-663300.
THE TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE, WHICH IS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME TO ADVISE ADDICTS OF THE BENEFITS THEY CAN OBTAIN THROUGH METHADONE DETOXIFICATION, IS PROVIDED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE.
BY DIALLING THE NUMBER, ENQUIRERS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION SUCH AS ADDRESSES OF THE 14 EXISTING DETOXIFICATION CENTRES, OPENING HOURS OF THE CENTRES AND THE NECCESSARY PROCEDURE TO ENROL FOR TREATMENT. OPERATION HOURS OF THE SERVICE WILL BE FROM 9 A.M. TO 9 P.M. DAILY, INCLUDING SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO ACT AS A MEDICAL OR SOCIAL COUNSELLING SERVICE. THE TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE WOULD PROVIDE A CONVENIENT MEANS FOR DRUG ADDICTS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY COULD OBTAIN TREATMENT.
HE ADDED THAT IT WOULD ALSO BE A BENEFIT TO THOSE WHO DID NOT HAVE MUCH EDUCATION AND MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTY IN READING POSTERS OR PAMPHLETS ON METHADONE DETOXIFICATION TREATMENT.
MEANWHILE, PUBLICITY DESIGNED TO EXPLAIN THE ADVANTAGES OF METHADONE DETOXIFICATION IS CONTINUING WITH THE USE OF TELEVISION AND RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS, POSTERS, LEAFLETS AND OTHER PUBLICITY METHODS.
UP TO LAST NIGHT, A TOTAL OF 4,690 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 277 FEMALES, HAVE REGISTERED FOR TREATMENT SINCE THE PROGRAMME STARTED ON JUNE 23.
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