DRUG ADDICTION RESEARCH PROGRAMME, 1976 - HONG KONG

• NCJ Number: 58016
• Author(s): T G GARNER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 54 pages
• Corporate Author: Hong Kong Prisons Dept
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Hong Kong

Annotation

METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A STUDY AIMED AT DEVELOPING PROFILES OF MALE AND FEMALE DRUG ADDICTS IN HONG KONG.

Abstract

A TOTAL OF 2,067 MALE AND 93 FEMALE DRUG ADDICTS ADMITTED TO THE HONG KONG PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS IN 1976 WERE THE SUBJECTS OF THIS STUDY. THIS REPRESENTS A COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE TREATMENT CENTERS CLIENTELE DURING THAT PERIOD. DATA WAS COLLECTED THROUGH PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH THE SUBJECTS BY STAFF MEMBERS SPECIALLY TRAINED FOR THE INTERVIEWS. FACTUAL INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE INTERVIEWS WAS CHECKED WITH OFFICIAL RECORDS. WHERE TWO OR MORE VARIABLES WERE CROSSTABULATED, DIFFERENCE IN MEANS AND STRENGTH OF RELATIONSHIP WERE VERIFIED BY THE CHI-SQUARE TEST, THE PEARSON'S PRODUCT-MOMENT CORRELATION COEFFICIENT, OR THE STUDENT-T TEST. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE TYPICAL 1976 MALE ADDICT WAS YOUNG, LOCALLY BORN, AND HAD OBTAINED ONLY A PRIMARY EDUCATION. HE HAD NO RELIGIOUS AFFILATION, BUT SOMETIMES PRACTICED ANCESTRAL WORSHIP. OCCASIONALLY HE WAS ABLE TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT AS A CRAFTSMAN OR PRODUCTION WORKER EARNING A DAILY INCOME OF APPROXIMATELY $35. HE WAS SINGLE, HAD LIVED IN KOWLOON FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, HAD SERVED FOUR PREVIOUS INSTITUTIONAL SENTENCES, AND BEFORE HIS CURRENT ADMISSION TO A TREATMENT CENTER, HE HAD RECEIVED TWO PREVIOUS TREATMENTS FOR ADDICTION. AFTER BEING DISCHARGED FROM A TREATMENT CENTER, HE SHOULD HAVE A 60 PERCENT CHANCE OF BEING DRUG FREE AT THE END OF ONE YEAR AND A 40 PERCENT CHANCE TO REMAIN DRUG FREE AFTER THREE YEARS. THE TYPICAL 1976 FEMALE ADDICT WAS YOUNG, LOCALLY BORN, SHOWED ATTACHMENT TO HER FAMILY, CLAIMED TO BE MARRIED, AND REPORTED THAT SHE BEGAN TAKING DRUGS BECAUSE OF PEER PRESSURE. SHE WAS A PROSTITUTE OR DANCE HOSTESS. BEFORE HER CURRENT ADMISSION INTO A TREATMENT CENTER, SHE HAD RECEIVED ONE PREVIOUS TREATMENT, BUT RELAPSED TO DRUG ABUSE WITHIN A YEAR. SHE SHOULD HAVE A 77 PERCENT CHANCE TO BE DRUG FREE AT THE END OF ONE YEAR AND A 71 PERCENT CHANCE TO REMAIN SO AT THE END OF THREE YEARS. GRAPHIC AND TABULAR DATA FROM THE STUDY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)