XN000022-1984-07-20 — Page 7

FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1984

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SEIZURES CAUSE DRUG PRICE RISE

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THE 400 KILOGRAMS OF HEROIN BASE SEIZED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR WAS ALMOST EQUAL TO THREE QUARTERS OF THE TOTAL SEIZURE OF THE DRUG LAST YEAR, IT WAS STATED AT THE 52ND MEETING OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS YESTERDAY (THURSDAY).

AS A RESULT OF THE LARGE SEIZURES OF HEROIN BASE, THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF ONE KILOGRAM OF NO. 3 HEROIN INCREASED FROM $26 400 AT THE END OF 1983 TO $85 800 AT THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR.

AND THE SHARP DRUG PRICE RISE LED TO A 70-PER CENT INCREASE IN ADMISSIONS TO THE METHADONE TREATMENT PROGRAMME IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1984 OVER THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.

ON MARCH 23, THERE WERE 10 277 PATIENTS ATTENDING THE METHADONE CLINICS - AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

COMPARED WITH THE FIRST QUARTER FIGURE FOR 1983, THE NUMBER CF PERSONS UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE NEWLY REPORTED TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1984 DECLINED BY 21 PER CENT.

THE NUMBER OF PERSONS UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE PROSECUTED FOR MAJOR AND MINOR DRUG OFFENCES IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1984 ALSO DECLINED BY 8.1 PER CENT AND 4.1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER FIGURES.

DESPITE THIS DECLINE, THE ACAN WILL BE KEEPING UP ITS EFFORTS IN PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY.

WITH THIS IN MIND, STAFF OF THE NARCOTICS DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT HAVE BEEN VISITING SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO TALK TO THE CHILDREN IN FORMS TO H.

ACAN WILL ALSO JOIN THE RADIO DIVISION OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG IN PRODUCING A SERIES OF DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAMMES FOR THE YOUNG.

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