XN000022-1993-10-23+24 — Page 6

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1993

AUTOMATED DRUG HOTLINE WELL-RECEIVED

THE AUTOMATION OF THE DRUG ABUSE TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE HOTLINE (DATES) HAS MADE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SEEK ADVICE AND INFORMATION ON DRUG-RELATED ISSUES, INCLUDING TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES FROM THE HOTLINE SET UP BY THE NARCOTICS DIVISON.

THE HOTLINE (366 8822) HAS BEEN AUTOMATED SINCE FEBRUARY 5 THIS YEAR WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A VOICE MESSAGING SYSTEM (VMS).

SINCE THE AUTOMATION, THE NUMBER OF CALLERS AVERAGED SOME 1,100 A DAY.

"IT IS HOPED THAT JUST WITH A PRESS OF THE BUTTON, MORE PEOPLE COULD BE INFORMED ABOUT THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE WHENEVER THEY WANT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NARCOTICS DIVISION SAID TODAY

(SUNDAY).

I

AT PRESENT, THE DATES HOTLINE HAS A TOTAL OF EIGHT TELEPHONE LINES TO ALLOW MORE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO LISTEN ΤΟ PRE-RECORDED MESSAGES IN CANTONESE ON 12 TYPES OF COMMON SUBSTANCES OF ABUSE AND TO GAIN ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON DRUG TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES.

THE VOICE MENU OF THE HOTLINE WILL TELL THE CALLERS ΤΟ PICK THE PRE-RECORDED MESSAGE THEY WANT BY PRESSING A SUITABLE NUMBER BUTTON. THE CODES FOR THE 12 TYPES OF COMMON SUBSTANCE OF ABUSE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

CODE

SUBSTANCE OF ABUSE

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

91

HEROIN

CANNABIS

LSD

TRANQUILLIZERS

BARBITURATES

MANDRAX

AMPHETAMINES

COCAINE

ORGANIC SOLVENTS

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