XN000022-1978-09-14 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1978

ANOTHER FINDING BY THE COMPUTERISED REGISTRY WHICH IS OF CONCERN TO ANTI-DRUG WORKERS IS A MARKED INCREASE IN THE USE OF THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS METHOD OF INJECTION BY THE ADDICTS TO TAKE HEROIN. ABOUT 32 PER CENT OF THEM USED THIS METHOD, COMPARED WITH ONLY ABOUT 14 PER CENT DURING THE 1972-74 PERIOD, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THIS METHOD REDUCES THE WASTAGE OF THE IR EXPENSIVE SUPPLIES WHICH OCCURS IF EITHER THE SMOKING OR FUME INHALING METHODS ARE USED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NARCOTICS DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SAID THE INJECTION METHOD IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE ADDICTS MAY CONTRACT DISEASES SUCH AS HEPATITIS BY USING DIRTY SYRINGES OR SUFFER OTHER PHYSICAL DAMAGE DUE TO THE IMPURITIES IN NO. 3 HEROIN.+

AS TO THE TYPES OF DRUGS USED BY ADDICTS, THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ADDICTS REPORT STATES THAT 83 PER CENT OF THE ADDICTS USED HEROIN, 12 PER CENT USED OPIUM AND THE REMAINING FIVE PER CENT USED DRUGS SUCH AS MORPHINE, AMPHETAMINES, BAREITURATES AND METHADONE.

AS FAR AS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION IS CONCERNED, IT IS REPORTED THAT THE ADDICT PATTERN IS QUITE SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION= 22 PER CENT LIVED ON HONG KONG ISLAND 24 PER CENT IN KOWLOON, 36 PER CENT IN NEW KOWLOON, 17 PER CENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ON OUTLYING ISLANDS, AND 0.2 PER CENT IN MARINE AREAS.

COMMENTING ON THIS INITIAL FINDINGS OF THE REGISTRY, THE NARCOTICS DIVISION SPOKESMAN SAID THE POTENTIAL RESOURCE WHICH THE REGISTRY REPRESENTS IS JUST BEGINNING TO BE TAPPED.

+ADDITIONAL VALUABLE INFORMATION WILL BE OBTAINED AND ANALYSED AS TIME GOES ON, THUS PERMITTING A CONSIDERABLY GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DRUG ADDICTION PROBLEM IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CAPABILITIES OF THE REGISTRY, HE SAID, IS THE ANALYSIS OF REPORTING HISTORY OF ADDICTS SUBSEQUENT TO A REPORT FROM SPECIFIC AGENCIES. THUS, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO FIND OUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PARTICULAR TREATMENT PROGRAMME BY MEASURING, FOR EXAMPLE. HOW MANY DISCHARGED ADDICTS ARE SUBSEQUENTLY REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN RE-ARRESTED BY THE POLICE AFTER RELAPSE TO ILLICIT DRUGS.

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