22.VEO Mi
ASTRY Ne. 21
7 L2C1973
1-KK19/3
21
Wednesday, November 28, 1973
ACTIVE ROLE FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPT. IN DRUG FIGHT
Dr. Choa Says Methadone Pilot Study Will Yield Far-Reaching Results
187
The Director of Medical and Health Services,Dr. the Hon. G.H. Choa,
today assured the Legislative Council that his department would play an
"active role" from now on in the treatment of drug addiction in Hong Kong.
In anticipation of further responsibilities, he proposed to set
up a separate division within the department to deal with narcotics and
drug administration, including the organisation of treatment and research.
The division would be headed by an officer not only familiar with
the drug problem, but also experienced in health administration, supported
by specialist staff, including a statistician.
Dr. Choa was confident that the department's three-year pilot
study on methadone maintenance would have "far-reaching results" that
would greatly influence thinking on what future action should be taken in
Hong Kong.
The study was aimed at two main objectives:
* To determine the extent to which an out-patient scheme
*
of methadone maintenance was acceptable to addicts.
To find out among those attending regularly whether it would be possible eventually to withdraw the substitute methadone so that finally they could be entirely weaned.
off all drugs.
Dr. Choa said the scheme had begun well, with the 550 volunteers
originally planned for three years already exceeded in less than a year,
and provisions approved for another 1,000 volunteers in the next two years.
/He described
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.