XN000022-1980-08-31 — Page 6

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 1980

LAN

5

HIGH ATTENDANCE RATE AT METHADONE CENTRES

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THE METHADONE TREATMENT PROGRAMME HAS PROVED INCREASINGLY POPULAR, JUDGING FROM THE HIGH ATTENDANCE RATE AT METHADONE CENTRES.

ABOUT 7 000 PATIENTS TURN UP DAILY AT THE GOVERNMENT'S 20 METHADONE CENTRES, REPRESENTING OVER 75 PER CENT OF THE 9 000 REGISTERED FOR TREATMENT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) POINTED OUT THAT THE ATTENDANCE RATE COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH THOSE IN OTHER COUNTRIES WITH SIMILAR PROGRAMMES.

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE ATTENDANCE RATE SELDOM FELL BELOW 70 PER CENT AND, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, IT REACHED AS HIGH AS 80 PER CENT.

+THE METHADONE PROGRAMME PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE TREATMENT OF ADDICTS IN HONG KONG AS IT IS TAKING CARE OF APPROXIMATELY 2-1/2 TIMES THE DAILY TOTAL OF PATIENTS RECEIVING ALL OTHER TREATMENT PROGRAMMES COMBINED, HE SAID.

METHADONE MAINTENANCE ON AN OUT-PATIENT BASIS WAS STARTED IN DECEMBER, 1972, AS A TRIAL SCHEME. BECAUSE OF ENCOURAGING RESPONSE, MORE CENTRES WERE OPENED IN 1974. IN ADDITION, METHADONE DETOXIFICATION WAS INTRODUCED IN 1976.

THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE METHOD ALLOWS A PATIENT TO BE MAINTAINED INDEFINITELY ON METHADONE, AND THE METHADONE DETOXIFICATION METHOD IS BASICALLY AIMED AT WEANING A PATIENT OFF DRUGS BY GRADUALLY REDUCING THE DOSAGE OF METHADONE OVER A NUMBER OF WEEKS.

+THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF METHADONE TREATMENT IS TO KEEP A LARGE NUMBER OF ADDICTS ON THE PROGRAMME SO THAT THEY CAN GET COUNSELLING AND AFTER-CARE, AND BE REHABILITATED INTO SOCIETY AS WORKING AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT NOW OPERATES 20 CENTRES WHICH ARE READILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE DRUG ADDICTS, AND CHARGES A NOMINAL FEE OF $1 PER VISIT.

+THE ADDICTS WHO VOLUNTEER TO BE ON THE METHADONE PROGRAMME DO NOT NEED TO PAY AN EXORBITANT SUM FOR ILLICIT DRUGS. IT ALSO PREVENTS THEM FROM THE RISK OF BEING ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OR TAKING OF HEROIN, HE SAID.

FURTHERMORE, 70 PER CENT OF THOSE ON METHADONE TREATMENT ARE NOW GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. THAT MEANS BY ENROLLING INTO THIS FORM OF TREATMENT WHICH REQUIRES THEM TO ATTEND THE CENTRE ONLY ONCE A DAY, THEY CAN PURSUE THEIR DAILY WORK AND RESUME THE IR NORMAL FAMILY AND SOCIAL LIFE.

/COMMENTING UN