XN000022-1984-06-13 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1964

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BUT HE STRESSED THAT WHETHER THE FORMER ADDICT COULD OVERCOME HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE AND ABSTAIN FROM DRUG WOULD DEPEND UPON HIS OWN MOTIVATION, THE COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE HE WAS GIVEN. AND THE EFFORT WHICH BOTH HE AND SOCIETY MADE IN SECURING HIS REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY.

+ IN HONG KONG WE HAVE ADOPTED A MULTI-MODALITY APPROACH

IN THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTION, MR MORTIMER SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THIS APPROACH WAS BOTH NECESSARY AND EFFECTIVE AS ONE FORM OF TREATMENT SUITABLE FOR SOME ADDICTS MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR OTHERS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES IN AGE HISTORY OF ADDICTION, PERSONAL BACKGROUND, EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS.

THERE ARE THREE MAJOR TREATMENT PROGRAMMES IN HONG KONG : A COMPULSORY PLACEMENT PROGRAMME OPERATED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AN OUT-PATIENT METHADONE PROGRAMME PROVIDED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND A VOLUNTARY IN-PATIENT AND COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAMME RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ABUSERS (SARDA).

IN 1983, A TOTAL OF 2 116 INMATES WERE ADMITTED TO THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S TREATMENT CENTRES, WITH 1 092 CASES UNDER TREATMENT WHEN THE YEAR BEGAN.

FROM THE START OF THE PROGRAMME IN 1969 TO THE END OF 1983, 21 423 DISCHARGEES COMPLETED THE STATUTORY ONE YEAR PERIOD OF AFTERCARE.

SARDA PROVIDES THE LARGEST OF THE VOLUNTARY IN-PATIENT TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG.

THE SOCIETY OPERATES TWO IN-PATIENT TREATMENT CENTRES,

ONE FOR MEN ON SHEK KWU CHAU AND THE OTHER FOR WOMEN AT WAN CHAI.

BOTH CENTRES ARE ORGANISED AS THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES AND

CAN CATER FOR 500 MALE AND 30 FEMALE PATIENTS.

SINCE SARDA STARTED ITS TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMME IN 1963, A TOTAL OF 16 613 ADDICTS HAVE USED ITS IN-PATIENT SERVICES.

+ IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE FEMALE DRUG ABUSERS WHO ARE EXPECTANT OR NURSING MOTHERS, AND TO FOSTER A CLOSER AND HEALTHIER MATERNAL RELATIONSHIP, A MOTHER-CHILD PROGRAMME WAS STARTED IN LATE 1980.

+SO FAR, 22 CHILDREN AGED FOUR OR UNDER HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE WOMEN'S TREATMENT CENTRE WITH THEIR MOTHER UNDER THIS

· PROGRAMME,+ MR MORTIMER SAID,

THERE ARE VARIOUS OTHER ORGANISATIONS WHICH OFFER TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES TO DRUG ADDICTS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.

/+ALTHOUGH THESE