XN000022-1976-06-07 — Page 8

MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1976

HOWEVER, DR. CHOA SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE FACTOR IN ALL CASES OF ADDICTION TREATMENT IS MOTIVATION AND DETERMINATION ON THE PART OF THE ADDICT HIMSELF.

STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF COUNSELLING AND WELFARE ASSISTANCE TO DRUG ADDICTS, THE DIRECTOR SAID HE HOPED TO PROVIDE CLUB FACILITIES IN THE DETOXIFICATION CENTRE SO THAT THE ADDICTS COULD SPEND SOME OF THEIR SPARE TIME THERE INSTEAD OF FREQUENTING THEIR OLD HAUNTS+,

SPEAKING AT THE SAME FUNCTION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. E.. LEE, STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS AGENCIES, AND THE VOLUNTARY INSTITUTIONS COULD NOT ALONE ELIMINATE DRUG-ABUSE AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY.

+ULTIMATE SUCCESS CAN ONLY COME THROUGH A CO-OPERATIVE ENDEAVOUR BETWEEN THEM AND THE WIDER. COMMUNITY TO WHICH WE ALL BELONG, HE SAID.

GOVERNMENT POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG'S DRUG PROBLEM, HE ADDED, WAS IN SHORT, TO REDUCE THE SUPPLY OF ILLICIT DRUGS COMING ON TO THE STREETS, AND ALSO THE DEMAND FOR THEM,

MR. LEE SAID THAT +THESE TWO AIMS ARE NOT SEPARATE AND DISTINCT, BUT COMPLEMENTARY AND INTER-DEPENDENT. FOR,

FOR, WITH EVERY MAJOR SEIZURE AND ARREST BY THE POLICE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICE, THE MORE SCARCE AND EXPENSIVE DRUGS BECOME.+

THIS, HE SAID, PUT PRESSURE ON THE ADDICT EITHER TO OBTAIN MORE MONEY TO SUPPORT HIS HABIT, BY BORROWING OR BY CRIME, OR TO SEEK SOME FORM OF TREATMENT.

+FOR ALL THOSE WHO FALL INTO THIS LATTER CATEGORY, IT IS OUR PURPOSE TO OFFER ALTERNATIVES BY PROVIDING A RANGE OF EASILY AVAILABLE TREATMENT FACILITIES, OF WHICH THIS CLINIC IS THE LATEST.+

BUT MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT EVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION WERE NOT BY THEMSELVES ENOUGH.

+ALLIED WITH THEM, IMAGINATIVE PROGRAMMES OF PREVENTIVE ACTION AND EDUCATION ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HELD TO BE MOST AT RISK, DO NOT JOIN THE ADDICT RANKS.

+IN THIS, OTHER PROGRAMMES, NOT DIRECTLY LINKED WITH NARCOTICS, CAN BE OF MATERIAL ASSISTANCE THESE INCLUDE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER GUIDANCE, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES TO PROVIDE HEALTHY AND CONSTRUCTIVE OUTLETS FOR THEIR ENERGIES.+

IN CONCLUSION, THE COMMISSIONER CALLED FOR PUBLIC

SUPPORT IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST DRUG ABUSE.

+THERE IS A NEED FOR COMMUNITY HELP, AT ALL LEVELS, IN ALL OUR PROGRAMMES,+ HE SAID.