ENG-1984 — Page 187

HEALTH

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addicts to seek treatment voluntarily. Addicts who wish to rid themselves of their drug habits are offered a wide range of treatment programmes, the effectiveness of which reduces the demand for illicit drugs. At the same time, preventive education and publicity measures are used to dissuade others, especially the young, from experimenting with drugs. Co-operation at the international level enhances the effectiveness of efforts in these three areas through the exchange of information and experience.

All these efforts are co-ordinated by the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN), a non-statutory body comprising a chairman, nine government officials and seven unofficial members. The committee, formed in 1965 and reconstituted in 1974, is the government's sole advisory body on all anti-narcotics policies and actions, whether internal or external, and whether related to government departments or voluntary agencies. It is serviced by the Narcotics Division which is headed by the Commissioner for Narcotics.

Given the abundant supply of illicit drugs as a result of successive bumper crops of opium from the 'Golden Triangle' region since 1981, the year saw unrelenting action against narcotics trafficking and abuse. In law enforcement, effective action by the police and customs resulted in 11 300 detections being made in respect of drug offences. Sustained pressure on traffickers at all levels resulted in more heroin being seized than in the previous year.

As a result, the price of heroin was at times more than addicts could afford, leading to increasing numbers seeking treatment. 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. At present, there are 24 methadone 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 of 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, five regional social services centres, four half-way hostels, two out-patient clinics and an employment placement office.

A compulsory treatment programme is operated by the Correctional Services Depart- ment under the Drug Addiction Treatment Centres Ordinance. The ordinance provides for the sentencing of a drug dependent person, who has been found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment, to detention in a drug addiction treatment centre. The Correctional Services Department now runs an addiction treatment centre for male adults and another for young males under 21 on the island of Hei Ling Chau. In addition, a section of the Tai Lam Correctional Institution is set aside for treating female addicts. The treatment programme ranges from four to 12 months, and all persons discharged are given one year of statutory after-care.

In 1984, the two voluntary treatment programmes and the Correctional Services Department's compulsory treatment programme admitted 18 500 addicts for treatment. On average, there were 14 000 addicts and ex-addicts receiving some form of treatment, rehabilitation and after-care every day.

During the year, the clinical trial on the efficacy of buprenorphine in the treatment of drug addiction was concluded. It was found that the drug, the primary use for which is as an analgesic, was not suitable for use on a mass scale in the detoxification of heroin addicts