5.
WEDNESDAY, JULY
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51
11 JUL 1974
8, 1974
VARIOUS METHODS OF TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTION MAINLY THREE TYPES, DR CHOA TELLS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
DR THE HON. GERALD CHOA, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, REVIEWED VARIOUS METHODS OF TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, AND DISCUSSED THEIR SUITABILITY FOR LOCAL APPLICATION.
WKK 19/2
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER ON THE PROBLEMS OF DANGEROUS DRUGS.
HE SAID THERE WERE MAINLY THREE TYPES OF TREATMENT
PROGRAMMES:
* PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL REHABILITATION.
* PHYSICAL REHABILITATION WITH EMPHASIS ON VOCATIONAL
TRAINING.
* DRUG THERAPY.
DR CHOA SAID THE FIRST METHOD WAS OF LITTLE PRACTICAL VALUE IN HONG KONG BECAUSE LOCAL ADDICTS HAD NO PREDOMINANT PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM.
WITH REGARD TO PHYSICAL REHABILITATION, THE PROGRAMMES ON SHEK KWU CHAU AND IN THE ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES RUN BY THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT WERE AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
AS FOR DRUG THERAPY, DR CHOA SUPPORTED METHADONE MAINTENANCE.
HE EXPLAINED WHY TWO SEPARATE TRIALS BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE DISCHARGED PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY WERE STILL BEING CONDUCTED, AND NO CLINICS WERE AS YET OPERATING.
THE REASONS WERE:
* TO ASSESS WHETHER THE METHOD WOULD BE POPULAR OR NOT
WITH LOCAL DRUG ADDICTS.
*
TO FIND OUT THE CAUSES OF THEIR DROPPING OUT.
*
TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE REGIMEN USED AT THE HIGH STREET CENTRE WAS SUITABLE FOR MASS TREATMENT.
DR CHOA GAVE THE COUNCIL THE ASSURANCE THAT, FROM HIS OBSERVATIONS IN NEW YORK, THE DANGERS REGARDING METHADONE MAINTENANCE SUCH AS OVERDOSE AND DEATH -- HAD BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD
AND MISINTERPRETED.
/HE SUMMED
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