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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1988
FULL OPERATION OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG ABUSERS CENTRE IN APRIL
THE FIRST COUNSELLING CENTRE FOR PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG ABUSERS WILL BECOME FULLY OPERATIONAL FROM APRIL 15 WITH THE PROVISION OF WALK-IN SERVICES.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), DR GERALD CHOA, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY).
"THE CENTRE, RUN BY THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE (HKCS) AS B-YFAR PILOT PROJECT, IS LOCATED AT THE HKCS HEADQUARTERS AT 33 GRANVILLE ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI," BE SAID.
A TI
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"THE HKCS HAS ADOPTED A SHORT CODE NAME TO MAKE THE CENTRE MORE WIDELY KNOWN AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE.
"THE COUR NAMR IS 'PS33' WHICH STANDS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE ABUSERS AT 33 GRANVILLE ROAD.'
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DR CHOA SAID INFORMATION, ADVICE, COUNSELLING, RECREATION AND ALTERNATIVE PURSUITS AS WELL AS REFERRAL SERVICES WOULD BE PROVIDED TO DRUG ABUSERS WHO ANKED FOR ASSISTANCE OR WHO WERE REFERRED TO THE CENTRE BY OTHER AGENCIES.
ALTHOUGH NO MEDICAL TREATMENT SERVICES WOULD BE AVAILABLE, THE CENTRE WOULD MAKE REFERRALS TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE TO ABUSERS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND TRACHERS WHERE NECESSARY, HE ADDED.
"THE CENTRE HAS ALREADY STARTED OPERATION SINCE MARCH 1 AND PROVIDED INITIAL SERVICES THROUGH REFERRALS FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND THROUGH APPOINTMENTS, DR CHOA CONTINUED.
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"STARTING FROM APRIL 15,
WALK-IN CASES WILL ALSO ВЕ ENTERTAINED FROM 7 PM TO 10 PM ON MONDAYS, AND FROM 2 PM то 5.30 PM AND 7 PM TO 10 PM ON TUESDAYS TO SATURDAYS.
"TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES MADE TO THE CENTRE'S HOTLINE, 3-688269, WILL BE ANSWERED BY TRAINED STAFF BETWEEN 9 AM AND 10 PM DURING WEEKDAYS AND ON SATURDAYS. TELEPHONE RECORDING SERVICE WILL BE ARRANGED IN THE REMAINING HOURS AND ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
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COSTING MORE THAN $2.2 MILLION, THE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE LOTTERIES FUND. THE NECESSARY GOVERNMENT APPROVAL HAS BEEN OBTAINED WITH SUPPORT FROM ACAN AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
REVIEWING THE DRUG SITUATION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR GARETHI MULLOY, SAID AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE YEAR 1987 SOME POSITIVE SIGNS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE IN HONG KONG.
SAW
"THE DOWNWARD
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