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SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1979
AFTER-CARE SERVICES IMPORTANT FOR EX-DRUG ADDICTS
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SAID THIS
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE (SATURDAY) EVENING THAT AFTER-CARE REHABILITATION SERVICES HAD AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN ANTI-NARCOTICS PROGRAMMES.
ADDRESSING THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE CARITAS LOK HEEP CLUB, MR. LEE SAID BREAKING AWAY FROM DRUG DEPENDENCE WAS NOT EASY AND THE MOST CHALLENGING PART WAS THE TIME WHEN THE EX-ADDICT CAME OUT FROM A TREATMENT CENTRE.
HE POINTED OUT THAT MANY EX-ADDICTS HAD A TENDENCY TO RELAPSE INTO DRUG DEPENDENCE WHEN THEY FAILED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.
WHAT THEY NEED IS A SECURE JOB, TEMPORARY FINANCIAL HELP AND, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR FAMILY AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
MR. LEE SAID SOCIAL WORKERS HAD A SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS RESPECT BY HELPING TO REBUILD THE FAMILY MEMBERS' CONFIDENCE AND HOPE IN THE EX-ADDICTS.
+ IN ADDITION, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SOCIAL WORKERS, BY POSITIVE MEANS THROUGH CASE EXAMPLES, PROVE TO THE EX-ADDICTS THAT THEY CAN VERY WELL CHANGE FROM BEING A LIABILITY OF THE SOCIETY INTO A CONTRIBUTING CITIZEN, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT DRUG ADDICTION WAS MAINLY A SOCIAL PROBLEM AND COULD NOT BE SOLVED SIMPLY BY MEDICAL OR LEGAL MEANS.
+CONCERTED EFFORTS BY ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE PREVENTIVE MEASURES, HE SAID.
IN PRAISING THE CARITAS LOK HEEP CLUB FOR ITS WORK IN AFTER- CARE SERVICES FOR EX-DRUG DEPENDANTS, MR. LEE SAIDE +APART FROM PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS TO HELP COPE WITH PROBLEMS, TO MAKE FRIENDS AND TO FOSTER HARMONIOUS FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, THE CLUB ORGANISES VARIOUS COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO ASSIST THEM IN REGAIKING CONFIDENCE.+
AT THE MEETING, MR. LEE ALSO PRESENTED AWARD PINS TO MEMBERS OF THE CLUB AND DESCRIBED THEM AS GOOD EXAMPLES IN ABSTAINING FROM THE TEMPTATION OF DRUGS AFTER TREATMENT.
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