WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1977
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SHORTER STAY REQUIRED IN DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES ******
THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES HAS SHORTENED BECAUSE OF EXPERIENCE GAINED IN CONDUCTING THE TREATMENT PROGRAMME, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES SAID WHEN MOVING THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES
(AMENDMENT) BILL IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE BILL PROPOSES TO REDUCE THE PERIOD OF DETENTION IN A TREATMENT CENTRE FROM A MAXIMUM OF 18 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS AND FROM A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS TO FOUR MONTHS.
MR. LEWIS NOTED THAT THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN TREATMENT CENTRES IN 1973 WAS 10 MONTHS AND IN THE LAST TWO YEARS 7-1/2 MONTHS.
+LIKEWISE, IN 1973, 435 ADDICTS SPENT MORE THAN 12 MONTHS IN ONE OF THESE CENTRES WHEREAS IN 1975 AND 1976, THE NUMBER HAD FALLEN TO UNDER TEN. TODAY THERE ARE NONE,+ HE SAID.
+DESPITE THE SHORTER PERIOD OF STAY THE SUCCESS RATE HAS REMAINED HIGH, BY COMPARABLE STANDARDS ELSEWHERE,+ HE ADDED.
THE REVISED LIMITS OF STAY WERE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS IN THE LIGHT OF THESE ENCOURAGING CIRCUMSTANCES AND HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, MR. LEWIS SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS THOUGHT THE LENGTH OF THE MAXIMUM PERIOD AN ADDICT MIGHT SPEND UNDER TREATMENT HAS SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT ON HIS ATTITUDE TO THE TREATMENT PROGRAMME.
+A REDUCED PERIOD OF DETENTION SEEMS JUSTIFIED ON THE ACTUAL AVERAGE LENGTH OF TREATMENT, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT OF ENCOURAGING AN EVEN MORE POSITIVE RESPONSE BY ADDICTS TO THE TREATMENT PROGRAMME,+ HE SAID.
A SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT FROM REDUCING THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM PERIOD OF DETENTION, HE SAID, WOULD BE TO INCREASE THE THROUGHPUT AT THE FOUR TREATMENT CENTRES, WHICH HAVE A CERTIFIED ACCOMMODATION FOR 1,618 ADDICTS BUT AN ACTUAL POPULATION OF 1,775.
+ IT IS OUR AIM, OF COURSE, TO HAVE A PLACE FOR ALL PERSONS WHO ARE FOUND SUITABLE FOR TREATMENT, HE STRESSED.
THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS BY WHICH A RELEASED INMATE REMAINS SUBJECT TO A SUPERVISION ORDER FOR A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS UNDER THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S AFTER-CARE SERVICE WOULD NOT BE ALTERED BY THE AMENDMENT BILL.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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