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Anti-drug workers enhanced their skills at a workshop today (May 16) for handling psychotropic substance abusers.
The workshop was organised jointly by the Narcotics Division of Security Bureau and the Social Welfare Department with funding from the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN).
A Narcotics Division spokesperson said the workshop was organised in response to views expressed by anti-drug workers. One of the recommendations of the 4th Three-year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong (2006-08) was to provide structured professional training for frontline anti-drug workers.
"In view of the rising trend of young psychotropic substance abusers in recent years, there is a need to update frontline workers on the latest development of service modalities to help these abusers," the spokesperson said.
"The workshop provided a good opportunity for participants to better equip themselves with the latest drug knowledge and skills in handling substance abusers. The Government will continue to give priority to the professional training of anti-drug workers to improve service delivery."
More than 270 anti-drug workers attended the workshop, including staff from residential drug rehabilitation centres, counselling centres for psychotropic substance abusers, substance abuse clinics, methadone clinics, as well as social workers from other non-governmental organisations and the Social Welfare Department.
The participants were briefed on the skills for handling emergency situation involving psychotropic substance abusers. They also acquired some techniques to enhance abusers' incentives to seek treatment service.
Participants took the opportunity to share experience and ideas with their peers. The workshop offered them a chance to strengthen their ties with each other for future collaboration in providing better drug treatment and rehabilitation services.
Speakers at the workshop were the Chairman of ACAN Sub-committee on Treatment and Rehabilitation, Dr Ben Cheung; Assistant Secretary for Security (Narcotics), Ms Candy Lau; Senior Medical Officer, Castle Peak Hospital Tuen Mun Substance Abuse Clinic, Dr Lam-ming; Registered Nurse, Castle Peak Hospital Tuen Mun Substance Abuse Clinic, Mr Patrick Hon; and Registered Social Worker, the Hong Kong Playground Association, Ms Lee Tak-wai.
Ends/Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:25
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