SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1984
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RESULTS OF DRUG INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED
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AN INVESTIGATION WAS RECENTLY CARRIED OUT IN HONG KONG INTO THE EFFICACY OF THE DRUG BUPRENORPHINE IN THE DETOXIFICATION OF HEROIN ADDICTS.
THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE DRUG, THE PRIMARY USE FOR WHICH IS AS AN ANALGESIC, WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR USE ON A MASS SCALE IN THE DETOXIFICATION OF HEROIN ADDICTS WHEN TAKEN IN ITS ORAL FORM.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS,
MR GORDON MORTIMER, TODAY (SATURDAY),
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE DRUG PRECIPITATED WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS IN SUBJECTS SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC HEROIN ADDICTION, MAKING THE DRUG UNACCEPTABLE TO THEM.
+ IN OUR EXPERIENCE THE BEST DRUG AVAILABLE AT THE PRESENT TIME FOR USE ON A MASS SCALE IN THE TREATMENT OF HEROIN ADDICTS IS METHADONE, HE SAID.
AT PRESENT ABOUT 8 000 PATIENTS EACH DAY ARE RECEIVING METHADONE TREATMENT AT 24 METHADONE CLINICS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
A MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER IS AVAILABLE IN EACH CLINIC TO GIVE COUNSELLING AND ASSISTANCE TO ADDICTS UNDER TREATMENT TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THE IR ADDICTION TO HEROIN.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1984-85 NORTH DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS AND FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN, MR MORTIMER POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF TREATMENT HAD BEEN RECOGNISED BY THE UNITED NATIONS.
QUOTING FROM THE 1983 REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD, MR MORTIMER SAID:
+A WIDE RANGE OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES HAS BEEN DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, THE MOST EXTENSIVE OF WHICH IS THE METHADONE OUT-PATIENT PROGRAMME RUN BY THE HONG KONG MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, A COMPULSORY TREATMENT PROGRAMME IS OPERATED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY IN-PATIENT PROGRAMMES AND A VARIETY OF AFTERCARE SERVICES ARE OFFERED BY THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS.+
MR MORTIMER ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE POLICE AND TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE FOR THEIR SUCCESSES IN SEIZING LARGE QUANTITIES OF HEROIN, THEREBY LEADING TO AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF THAT DRUG IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH.
IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1984 ALONE, SEIZURES OF HEROIN AND OPIUM AMOUNTED TO OVER 56 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL SEIZED IN THE WHOLE OF 1983. WHICH ITSELF HAD BEEN A RECORD YEAR FOR SEIZURES OF ILLICIT DRUGS.
/ON THE