TNAG-0506-FCO40-571-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 3

RECEIVED

27 JAN:975

Jokk1962

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1974.

XELLENT RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY METHADONE MEASURE 92 PER CENT RETURN DAILY FOR ORAL DOSAGE

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IN THE FIRST WEEK OF EMERGENCY METHADONE MAINTENANCE AT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S THREE NEW CENTRES, 388 DRUG ADDICTS WERE TREATED, OF WHOM 334 OR 92.5 PER CENT ARE RETURNING FOR THEIR DAILY DOSAGE.

ANNOUNCING THESE FIGURES TODAY, DR. GERALD CHOA, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, SAID THEY WERE +EXCELLENT AND MOST ENCOURAGING+.

OF THE 388 WHO WERE TREATED, 100 WERE ATTENDED TO AT THE HO MAN TIN HEALTH CENTRE IN PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD, 138 AT THE LADY TRENCH POLYCLINIC IN TSUEN WAN, AND 142 AT THE ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE IN SAN PO KONG.

ADDICTS TREATED WERE AGED BETWEEN 18 AND 62, OR AN AVERAGE AGE OF 43. THEY WERE ADDICTED EITHER TO OPIUM OR HEROIN, WITH HEROIN ADDICTS NUMBERING 80 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL.

DR. CHOA SAID THAT DURING THE WEEK, ONLY THREE ADDICTS HAD BEEN REGARDED AS UNSUITABLE FOR METHADONE TREATMENT. ALL THREE WERE EXAMINED AT THE ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE. TWO WERE TOLD THAT METHADONE WOULD HARM, RATHER THAN RELIEVE THEM, BECAUSE OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS OF THE LIVER. THEY WERE REFERRED TO A MEDICAL CLINIC INSTEAD.

THE THIRD HAD ONLY BEEN ON HEROIN FOR SIX MONTHS, AND IT WAS CONSIDERED ADVISABLE, IN HIS OWN INTEREST, NOT TO PUT HIM ON METHADONE.

+THIS DISPOSES OF THE ALLEGATION THAT ADDICTS APPLYING FOR TREATMENT HAD BEEN TURNED AWAY,+ DR. CHOA COMMENTED. +OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF ADDICTS WHO WERE NOT ATTENDED TO ON THE FIRST OR SECOND DAY LECAUSE THEY HAD EITHER COME TOO LATE OR DID NOT HAVE PHOTOS AND IDENTITY CARDS, I BELIEVE ALL WERE EVENTUALLY TAKEN IN.+

IN HIS VIEW, THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST WEEK FOLLOWED PREDICTED LINES. THE ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE HAD BEEN THE BUSIEST OF THE THREE, AS EXPECTED, BECAUSE IT WAS LOCATED NEAR THE NOTORIOUS KOWLOON CITY VICE DENS.

A NUMBER OF ADDICTS SEEKING TREATMENT AT THE HO MAN TIN HEALTH CENTRE, INSTEAD OF BEING DENIED ATTENTION, HAD MISSED THE CENTRE BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION BEHIND THE PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD FLYOVER. STAFF HAD HAD TO RUN AFTER THEM TO IRING THEM IN.

CAST PAPER

/DR. CHOA THOUGHT

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