XN000022-1992-01-22 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1992

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S COMPULSORY IN-PATIENT PROGRAMME IS TO PERSUADE DRUG ABUSERS TO SAY "NO" TO DRUGS. IT PROVIDES DETOXIFICATION TREATMENT AND COUNSELLING FOR A PERIOD OF DETENTION IMPOSED BY THE COURTS AND A ONE-YEAR STATUTORY AFTERCARE PERIOD.

SINCE IT STARTED IN 1969 AND UP TO THE END OF 1990, A TOTAL OF 35,792 MALES AND 1,509 FEMALES COMPLETED TREATMENT.

MORE THAN 70 PER CENT OF THE MALES AND 76 PER CENT OF THE FEMALES DID NOT RELAPSE OR WERE NOT RE-CONVICTED OF ANY CRIMINAL OFFENCE DURING THE ONE-YEAR AFTERCARE PERIOD.

ANYONE AND,

"THEREAFTER, THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT TO ACCORDINGLY, NO ACCURATE STATISTICS ARE AVAILABLE. MANY DO, HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENTLY RELAPSE," MR ASPREY SAID.

THE SARDA TREATMENT PROGRAMME IS VOLUNTARY AND IS SUBJECT TO LARGE NUMBER

DROP-OUTS. HOWEVER, MANY SUBSEQUENTLY SEEK RE ADMISSION AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CASES OF MULTIPLE RE-ADMISSIONS.

OF

A

"OUT OF.1,006 MALE AND 63 FEMALE CASES IN 1990/91, 14 PER CENT OF THE MALES AND 37 PER CENT OF THE FEMALES REMAINED DRUG-FREE AT THE END OF A VOLUNTARY TWO-YEAR TREATMENT AND AFTERCARE PERIOD, "HE ADDED.

EFFORTS MADE TO HELP YOUNGSTERS HANDLE STRESS

*

MORE PROGRAMMES TO PROMOTE PARENTAL AWARENESS IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND MORE ON COUNSELLING SERVICES TO PARENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE ORGANISED, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

OF THE PUBLICITY

ARE BEING JOHN CHAN,

MR CHAN SAID THESE PROGRAMMES ARE TO HELP PARENTS CHILDREN TO FACE FRUSTRATION AND HANDLE STRESS POSITIVELY.

HELP

THEIR

THE AVAILABILITY OF SUCH COUNSELLING SERVICES WOULD

BE PUBLICISED THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF A LEAFLET ON GOOD PARENTHOOD TO PARENTS OF PRIMARY AND JUNIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS NEXT MONTH, HE SAID.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON NG MING-YUM ON THE GOVERNMENT'S MEASURES TO DEAL WITH SUICIDE CASES COMMITTED BY YOUNG PEOPLE, MR CHAN SAID THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATING ACTION BETWEEN SCHOOLS, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, AS THE BULK OF THE AFFECTED AGE GROUP ARE STUDENTS.

"THE SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE COUNSELLING, ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT, AND SMALL GROUP THERAPY,' SAID.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SECRETARY

"

THE

/HE SAID