XN000022-1984-06-13 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1984

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+ALTHOUGH THESE OPERATIONS DEAL WITH A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF ADDICTS, THEIR DEDICATED AND EFFECTIVE EFFORTS, AND THE SELFLESS COMMITMENT OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THEM, HAVE CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO HONG KONG'S LONG BATTLE AGAINST DRUG ADDICTION, HE SAID.

THESE ORGANISATIONS INCLUDE CARITAS LOK HEEP CLUB, HAVEN OF HOPE HOSPITAL, HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE TUNG FOOK HOUSE, THE HONG KONG DISCHARGED PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY, LING OF YOUTH CENTRE, OPERATION DAWN AND WU OI CHRISTIAN CENTRE.

+ALTHOUGH THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO ASSIST PATIENTS TO DETOXIFY AND ACHIEVE A DRUG-FREE STATE, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR A SIGNIFICANT SEGMENT OF THE ADDICT POPULATION.

*WITH RESPECT TO SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES, IT IS CONSIDERED VITALLY IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE A READILY ACCESSIBLE, LEGAL, MEDICALLY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO CONTINUED ILLICIT SELF-ADMINISTRATION OF HEROIN TO EVERY SINGLE ADDICT.

+THE WIDESPREAD NETWORK OF METHADONE CLINICS EFFECTIVELY MEETS THIS NEED, HE SAID.

THE USE OF METHADONE FOR TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTS ON AN OUT-PATIENT BASIS WAS STARTED IN HONG KONG IN LATE 1972.

SINCE THEN THE PROGRAMME HAS EXPANDED RAPIDLY TO COPE WITH THE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR TREATMENT FACILITIES, MAKING IT NOW THE LARGEST OF THE TREATMENT PROGRAMMES IN HONG KONG.

THERE ARE NOW 24 OUT-PATIENT METHADONE CLINICS IN THE TERRITORY, IN OPERATION SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

DURING 1983, THE DAILY AVERAGE ATTENDANCE AT THESE CLINICS WAS 6 303, COMPARED WITH THE 1982 AVERAGE OF 6 976.

+THUS, DESPITE THE CONTINUING AVAILABILITY AND LOW PRICE OF ILLICIT HEROIN IN 1983, THE NUMBER OF ADDICTS WHO SOUGHT METHADONE TREATMENT REMAINED AT A RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL,+ MR MORTIMER SAID.

IN MARCH 1984, WHEN THERE WAS AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF HEROIN DUE TO RECORD SEIZURES, THE DAILY ATTENDANCE WAS OVER 10 000. IT IS NOW ABOUT 7 400 A DAY.

HE SAID THAT HONG KONG'S TREATMENT PROGRAMMES WERE CLOSELY LINKED WITH A VARIETY OF AFTERCARE SERVICES, RANGING FROM COUNSELLING AND EMPLOYMENT TO LODGING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

+FOR MANY ADDICTS, SUCH SERVICES ARE ESSENTIAL TO HELP THEM RE-INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY AND TO PREVENT THEM FROM RELAPSING TO DRUGS,+ HE SAID.

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