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VERN_EDIA*
IN THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTS, HE POINTED OUT THE MOST CRUCIAL PHASE OF WORK WAS TO ASSIST THEM, AFTER THEIR RELEASE FROM TREATMENT CENTRES TO ADAPT TO THE PRESSURE ARISING FROM LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, HOLDING A JOB AND ASSOCIATING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS.
DR HO NOTED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT AMENDMENT PROPOSED IN THE BILL WAS TO SHORTEN THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF DETENTION IN ORDER TO MAXIMISE THE EFFECT OF AFTERCARE.
*THE INTENTION IS TO REDUCE TO THE MINIMUM THE CHANCES OF RELAPSE AND IS BASED ON EXPERIENCE THAT IN MILD CASES THE SHORTER THE TIME SPENT INSIDE THE TREATMENT CENTRE THE LOWER THE CHANCES OF RELAPSE, HE ELABORATED.
DR HO SAID THIS APPROACH WAS IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT REHABILITATION PRACTICE FOR DRUG ABUSERS AND WAS THEREFORE WORTHY OF SUPPORT.
HOWEVER. HE SAID THE SUCCESS OF AFTERCARE DEPENDED TO A LARGE EXTENT ON THE QUALITY OF SUPERVISION.
HE SAID THAT IF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WERE LEGISLATED, THERE WOULD BE AN ESTIMATED 100-0DD DETOXICATED DRUG ABUSERS RELEASED FOR SUPERVISION.
+IF THERE ARE ANY SHORTFALLS IN MANPOWER, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MUST BE ALLOCATED TO REMEDY THEM, OTHERWISE THE ENACTMENT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL WILL BE A FRUITLESS EXERCISE, HE STRESSED.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, THEN THANKED DR HO FOR HIS SUPPORT AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL'S AD HOC GROUP FOR SCRUTINISING THE BILL.
HE SAID THAT HE HAD LEARNED FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN INITIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS RELEASED ON SUPERVISION AFTER THE BILL'S ENACTMENT, BUT IN THE LONG TERM IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE INCREASE, IF ANY, SHOULD BE MINIMAL.
*THE COMMISSIONER BELIEVES THAT HIS DEPARTMENT WILL BE QUITE CAPABLE OF MEETING ANY ADDITIONAL DEMAND ON STAFF RESOURCES SRISING FROM THE ENACTMENT OF THIS BILL.
·NEVERTHELESS DR HO'S SUPPORT FOR ALLOCATING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THIS PURPOSE IS MUCH WELCOMED AND IF SUCH A NEED IS DEMONSTRATED IN THE FUTURE, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S APPROVAL WILL BE SOUGHT, HE SAID.
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