NCJ Number
181129
Date Published
1999
Length
31 pages
Annotation
The drug addiction treatment center program of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department plays a significant role in providing residential treatment for convicted drug addicts and offers the courts an alternative to sending a drug addict to prison.
Abstract
The program aims at total rehabilitation of drug addicts to help them lead drug-free and useful lives. The treatment regimen involves three phases: restoration of physical health, removal of psychological and emotional dependence on drugs, and reintegration into the community. Length of treatment ranges from 2 to 12 months, and the actual duration depends on the progress of individuals during the treatment period. In 1997, 1,916 individuals were admitted to the program. About 25 percent were between 14 and 20 years of age, and about 28 percent of adults were between 18 and 20 years of age when they first started to take drugs. About half of the adult drug addicts said they started taking drugs out of curiosity and for pleasure seeking. For the young counterparts, most started taking drugs out of curiosity and to gain acceptance from their addict friends. Almost all drug addicts abused heroin, and they spent an average of $200 daily on their habits. Injection and fume inhaling were equally popular methods among adults, while most young people preferred fume inhaling. Drug offenses represented the most common type of offense committed by drug addicts, accounting for 76 percent of males and 77 percent of females. The remaining offenses primarily involved property crimes. Among persons who completed supervision in the drug treatment program during 1997, 68 percent were not reconvicted and did not relapse into drugs. 24 tables and 10 charts