ENG-1987 — Page 180

HEALTH

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treatment programme has proved to be very effective in serving both the addict and the community, a new evening methadone clinic was opened in Tai Po in January, bringing to 25 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 capacity for 500 patients, while the Women's Treatment Centre, in Wan Chai and in Sha Tin can handle 39 patients. Linked to these centres are three units for the intake of patients, five regional social service centres, six halfway houses, an employment placement office and a clinic which provides pre-admission medical examination and methadone treatment, urine analysis and post-discharge medical care.

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 treatment centre. The department now runs two addiction treatment centres on the island of Hei Ling Chau, one for male adults and the other for young males under 21. The former has capacity for 938 and the latter 136. Adult female addicts receive treatment in a section of the Tai Lam Centre for Women specially set aside for this purpose, while the treatment programme for young women under 21 is conducted in the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution. These treatment programmes range from two to 12 months, and all persons discharged are given one year of statutory after-care.

In 1987, the two voluntary treatment programmes and the Correctional Services Department's compulsory treatment programme admitted 15 650 addicts. On average, there were 16 000 addicts and ex-addicts receiving some form of treatment, rehabilitation and after-care every day.

Preventive Education and Publicity

Work in these areas is focused on heightening public awareness of the dangers of drug abuse, promoting community involvement in tackling the problem, dissuading young people from experimenting with drugs or becoming involved in drug crime, and encourag- ing addicts to come forward for treatment. The objectives of the publicity campaign in 1987 were to publicise the severe penalties in trafficking in psychotropic substances, and to educate the public on the harmful effects of abusing such drugs.

Five district campaigns with community involvement were held. Among the events organised to drive home the anti-narcotics message were carnivals, concerts, camps, drama performances, film shows, seminars and exhibitions.

The School Talks Team in the Narcotics Division continued to give drug education talks to secondary school students throughout the territory. The target audience of the talks was extended to cover students between 12 and 17 years of age. During the year, 69 258 students from 116 schools attended the talks.

To provide students with more information on the dangers of non-opiate psychotropic substances and the penalties for possession and trafficking in these drugs, the Narcotics Division produced an additional set of slides with commentary scripts for inclusion in the secondary school drug education teaching kit. A territory-wide seminar involving secondary school administrators, teachers and school social workers was organised in November to introduce the supplementary material and to enlist their support in the fight against drugs.

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