Treatment and Rehabilitation

Hong Kong adopts a multi-modality approach in providing treatment and
rehabilitation services to cater for the different needs of drug abusers
from varying backgrounds. The main types of treatment and rehabilitation
programmes include a compulsory drug addiction treatment programme
operated by the Correctional Services Department for convicted drug
abusers; a voluntary out-patient methadone programme provided by the
Department of Health; voluntary residential treatment programmes run by
the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA) and
other non-governmental organisations including a number of Christian
therapeutic treatment agencies; counselling services for psychotropic
substances abusers provided by PS33 of the Hong Kong Christian
Service, Caritas HUGS Centre and Direction of SARDA; and medical
services for substance abusers provided by the Hospital Authority's six
substance abuse clinics. Two teams of specially trained social workers
under the Against Substance Abuse Scheme of the Social Welfare
Department are available to help the youth at risk who occasionally abuse
drugs.

In April 1997, SARDA's Sister Aquinas Memorial Women's Treatment
Centre was relocated from Sha Tin to North District, with its capacity
increased from 39 to 57 beds. A permanent site for an existing
counselling centre for psychotropic substance abusers in the New
Territories was identified and local consultation started. Renovation works
for a new residential treatment centre for opiate abusers were in full swing
and will commence operation in the first half of 1998.

During the year, a study commissioned by the Social Welfare Department
was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and
rehabilitation services provided by non-subvented drug agencies, with a
view to including them in the subvention system. The study was
completed in December 1997.

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