XN000022-1976-05-29 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1976

OPENING OF METHADONE DETOXIFICATION CLINIC ADVANCED ******

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT ITS FIRST METHADONE DETOXIFICATION CLINIC WILL BE OPENED EARLIER THAN PLANNED +IN CASE A LARGE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS MAY REQUIRE TREATMENT+,

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. G.H. CHOA, SAID THE DETOXIFICATION CENTRE, TO BE ACCOMMODATED AT THE VIOLET PEEL CLINIC IN WAN CHAI, WILL BE OPENED ON TUESDAY (JUNE 1) INSTEAD OF JUNE 7 AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE DECISION TO PUT FORWARD THE OPENING DATE WAS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT MORE DRUG ADDICTS WOULD REQUIRE TREATMENT AS A RESULT OF RECENT SEIZURES BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES OF VERY LARGE QUANTITIES OF NARCOTICES.

DR. CHOA SAID FACILITIES NOW AVAILABLE INCLUDE FOUR EXISTING METHADONE MAINTENANCE CENTRES AND THE NEW DETOXIFICATION CENTRE.

+WE SHALL, OF COURSE, CONSIDER OPENING MORE CENTRES SHOULD THE SITUATION WARRANT IT, HE ADDED.

THE DIRECTOR SAID EACH OF THE FOUR CENTRES - EASTERN STREET CENTRE IN WESTERN DISTRICT, ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE IN SAN PO KONG, HOMANTIN HEALTH CENTRE AT PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD AND LADY TRENCH POLYCLINIC IN TSUEN WAN - IS CAPABLE OF TREATING 1,000 ADDICTS PER DAY.

THE NEW DETOXIFICATION CENTRE AT VIOLET PEEL WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO TAKE IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME NUMBER, BUT ONLY 40 NEW CASES WILL BE ADMITTED EACH DAY.

+THIS IS BECAUSE AN ADDICT MUST BE MEDICALLY EXAMINED AND CAREFULLY SCREENED BEFORE HE IS PUT ON THE DETOXIFICATION PROGRAMME,+ HE SAID.

ONCE THE ADDICT IS PUT ON THE PROGRAMME HE WOULD BE GIVEN A DAILY DOSAGE OF METHADONE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE DOSAGE IS GRADUALLY REDUCED UNTIL THE ADDICT IS COMPLETELY WEANED.

IF AN ADDICT RESPONDS FAVOURABLY AT THE END OF THE TREATMENT PERIOD, HE WILL BE ASKED TO COME BACK FOR CHECK-UPS ONCE A MONTH FOR A YEAR.

IF, HOWEVER, HE FAILS TO RESPOND SUCCESSFULLY TO THE DETOXIFICATION METHOD, HE WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR TRANSFER TO THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME.

A SPECIAL