XN000022-1997-04-16 — Page 54

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(b)

As far as treatment is concerned, the study recommends that -

(1)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

drug treatment programmes for female drug abusers should be flexible in its duration and format to allow for individual needs;

apart from

from modifying drug abuse behaviour, women's psychological health should be attended to in the treatment process as the presence of psychological distress may compromise their response to the treatment programme;

programmes for female drug abusers' parents, spouses and support providers be available to help them to become effective change agents and support providers; and

in view of the fact that the average relapse time for female drug abusers is about 6 months, the existing aftercare services for female drug abusers should be strengthened to include various skills training, job placement assistance and establishment of mutual support groups among female drug abusers and their family members to facilitate their re-integration into the community.

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The Government endorses fully the study's recommendations. preventive education, a TV API featuring female drug abuse problem has been produced and will be broadcast in the coming months. Joint programmes will also be organized with district School Liaison Committees to strengthen parent-child relationship. The Beat Drugs Fund further provides an additional source of funding to finance preventive education programmes for women at risk and other related anti-drug programmes. Concerning the treatment of female drug abusers, recommendations of the study have already been incorporated into the existing services provided by Government and voluntary agencies for treatment of female drug abusers. Follow-up discussions will continue to be held on the effective methods of strengthening and improving on the existing programmes.

There is an upward trend in the total number of female drug abusers reported to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse during the years 1994- 96, as follows -