ENG-1983 — Page 145

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HEALTH

Despite the increased supply and low price of heroin, large numbers of addicts continued to seek, and remain in, treatment voluntarily. The majority sought treatment in the methadone treatment programme which provides both maintenance and detoxification services on an out-patient basis. Methadone maintenance is a long-term treatment approach which is intended to prevent an addict's return to illicit heroin or other forms of narcotic abuse, while detoxification is a short-term form of treatment aimed at eliminating the physical dependence on narcotics. As the methadone treatment programme has proved to be extremely effective in serving both addicts and the community, a new evening methadone clinic was opened in Ngau Tau Kok in April, bringing to 24 the number of such clinics operated by the Narcotics and Drug Administration Division of the Medical and Health Department.

The largest voluntary in-patient treatment programme is run by SARDA. The society operates two treatment centres, one for men and the other for women. The male centre, on the island of Shek Kwu Chau, has a capacity for 500 patients, while the Women's Treatment Centre, in Wan Chai, can cater for 30 patients. Linked to these centres are three units for the intake of patients, six after-care centres and three hostels.

In 1983, the two voluntary treatment programmes and the Correctional Services. Department's compulsory treatment programme admitted 15 200 addicts for treatment. On average, there were 12 600 addicts and ex-addicts in receipt of some form of treatment, rehabilitation and after-care every day.

A significant development during the year was the implementation of a clinical trial in September on the efficacy of buprenophine in the treatment of drug addiction. The trial, funded by the government on the recommendation of ACAN, was conducted at SARDA's Shek Kwu Chau Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre with 50 voluntary patients. The results of the first phase of the trial are now being critically evaluated.

Preventive education and publicity plays an important part in Hong Kong's fight against drug abuse. Work in this area is focused on fostering public awareness of the dangers of drug abuse, promoting community involvement in tackling the problem, persuading young people not to experiment with drugs or become involved in drug crime, and encouraging addicts to come forward for treatment.

District-based preventive education and publicity campaigns were mounted throughout the territory in 1983. Among the events organised to carry the anti-narcotics message were concerts, variety shows, sports tournaments, fun fairs, film shows and exhibitions, as well as Chinese essay-writing, poster and slogan design, painting and singing competitions. The major event of the year's territory-wide campaign was the Anti-Narcotics Educational Variety Show staged at the Hong Kong Coliseum before 7 000 people. The show was later broadcast on television on two successive Sunday evenings, with each of the broadcasts being watched by an audience of two million. There were also school talks, seminars and training camps for students, teachers, community leaders, social workers and factory workers. To support these activities, television newsclips and films, radio dramas, posters and leaflets were produced.

The Youth Against Drugs Scheme was launched for the third year, while the ACAN Youth Volunteer Group, which was established in 1981 with a view to training and encouraging young volunteers to play an active and direct part in anti-narcotics work, participated in 27 anti-narcotics preventive education and publicity activities.

The Drug Education Liaison Centre - set up in 1980 under the Preventive Education and Publicity Section of the Narcotics Division also organised anti-narcotics training and education for young people, parents, teachers, students, social workers and voluntary

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