TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1979
METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT EXTENDED TO FEMALE DRUG ADDICTS
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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS EXTENDING ITS METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT FACILITIES TO FEMALE DRUG ADDICTS WHO REQUIRE A DAILY DOSE OF METHADONE FOR A LONG PERIOD.
NEW FEMALE ADDICTS NOW CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR TREATMENT, ON AN OUT-PATIENT BASIS, IN THE MAINTENANCE CENTRES IN EASTERN STREET ON HONG KONG ISLAND, ROBERT BLACK AND HO MAN TIN CENTRES IN KOWLOON AND LADY TRENCH CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN.
FEMALE PATIENTS UNDER THE METHADONE DETOXIFICATION PROGRAMME ARE ALSO ALLOWED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE MAINTENANCE CENTRE IF THEY WISH.
THE DEPARTMENT IS CONCURRENTLY PROVIDING TWO TYPES OF METHADONE TREATMENT TO DRUG ADDICTS - DETOXIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE.
THE METHADONE DETOXIFICATION PROGRAMME IS FOR DRUG ADDICTS WHO HAVE A MOTIVATION TO GET OFF THE HABIT BUT ARE NOT PREPARED TO STAY IN A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTRE FOR A RELATIVELY LONG PERIOD FOR VARIOUS REASONS SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT AND FAMILY PROBLEMS.
THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME IS FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT BENEFIT FROM THE DETOXIFICATION PROGRAMME BUT WISH TO GIVE UP TAKING NARCOTICS AND TO LIVE A USEFUL LIFE.
THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME STARTED IN DECEMBER 1972 AS A THREE-YEAR PILOT STUDY ACCEPTING ONLY MALE PATIENTS AT THE EASTERN STREET CENTRE.
BECAUSE OF THE VERY GOOD RESPONSE RECEIVED, THE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAMME AND SUBSEQUENTLY SET UP THREE MORE CENTRES TO COPE WITH THE DEMAND FOR THE TREATMENT FACILITIES.
MORE THAN 4,000 PATIENTS ARE NOW RECEIVING THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT.
IN VIEW OF THE SUCCESS OF THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT, THE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHED A MASSIVE METHADONE DETOXIFICATION PROGRAMME, OFFERING A COMPLETELY NEW MODE OF TREATMENT FOR BOTH MALE AND FEMALE ADDICTS.
UNLIKE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT WHICH REQUIRES THE PATIENTS TO BE MAINTAINED INDEFINITELY ON METHADONE, DETOXIFICATION IS AIMED AT WEANING A PATIENT OFF DRUGS BY GRADUALLY REDUCING THE DAILY DOSAGE OF METHADONE OVER A NUMBER OF WEEKS.
THE FIRST METHADONE DETOXIFICATION CENTRE WAS OPENED AT THE VIOLET PEEL CLINIC IN WAN CHAI ON JUNE 1, 1976. THE NUMBER OF DETOXIFICATION CENTRES HAS NOW INCREASED TO 17. THEY ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THERE ARE NOW ABOUT 3,500 PATIENTS BEING TREATED IN THE DETOXIFICATION CENTRES.
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