XN000022-1997-04-16 — Page 55

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Year

Total number of

Number of female

% of

drug abusers

drug abusers

total

1994

20,327

2,183

10.7%

1995

19,343

2,321

12.0%

1996

19,626

2,417

12.3%

(c)

Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing medical condition affected by complex socio-psychological factors. We have a long-standing policy of adopting a multi-modality approach in the provision of drug treatment and rehabilitation services. Specific treatment facilities for female drug abusers include a compulsory treatment programme in the Chi Ma Wan Drug Addiction Treatment Centre operated by the Correctional Services Department, and a subvented voluntary in-patient treatment and rehabilitation programme in the Sister Aquinas Memorial Women's Treatment Centre run by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts (SARDA). Apart from these, there are six non-subvented agencies, including Christian treatment agencies, providing drug treatment, aftercare and/or halfway house services for female drug abusers.

On the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation services for female drug abusers, in 1996, 74.8% of the total number of female drug abusers who completed the one-year compulsory supervision following their discharge from Drug Addiction Treatment Centre had neither relapsed into drug abuse nor been convicted of any crime during the supervision period. In the same year, for those female patients who completed SARDA's two-year programme of treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare, 69.2% remained drug-free during the programme period. Such figures are higher than those for male drug abusers. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of these treatment programmes is being further looked into through a three-year research study to review the objectives and outcomes of various drug treatment modalities in Hong Kong. The study will be completed by the end of 1998.

As for the voluntary drug treatment programmes run by non-subvented agencies, an evaluation study on the effectiveness of their services is now being conducted by an independent institute. The study will be completed by the end of this year.