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HONG KONG - COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS - DRUG ADDICTION RESEARCH PROGRAMME, 1975

NCJ Number
43476
Author(s)
T G GARNER
Date Published
Unknown
Length
43 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY ATTEMPTS TO PROFILE MALE AND FEMALE ADDICTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHARACTERIZING FEATURES OF THE ADDICT SUBCULTURE.
Abstract
DATA WERE COLLECTED ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES: PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND ATTAINMENTS, FAMILY PARTICULARS AND PEER RELATIONSHIP, ENVIRONMENTAL CONFINES, ADDICTION PROCESS, TREATMENT DETAILS, AND INHERENT CRIMINALITY. CHANGES IN THE PROFILES OF MALE AND FEMALE ADDICTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN A COMPARISON BETWEEN 1975 PROFILES AND 1972-74 PROFILES; AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO EXPLAIN THESE DIFFERENCES. SUBJECTS OF THE STUDY WERE 6,265 MALE AND 267 FEMALE DRUG ADDICTS WHO HAD COMPLETED A FULL TREATMENT PROGRAM IN THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS BETWEEN 1972-75. THE TREATMENT PROCESS AT THE DEPARTMENT IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. SINCE THE REAL TEST OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TREATMENT SCHEME STARTS AT THE TIME OF THE INMATE'S DISCHARGE, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN HELPING THE EX-ADDICT ADJUST TO SOCIETY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. TWO SOLUTIONS FOR CUTTING DOWN THE DEMAND FOR DRUGS ARE SUGGESTED: ONE CONSISTS OF PSYCHOLOGICALLY REHABILITATING THE ADDICT SO THAT HE IS CONVINCED THAT HE SHOULD STAY DRUG-FREE. THE OTHER APPROACH IS TO IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL ADDICTS AND THE FACTORS PREDISPOSING THEM TO DRUG ADDICTION, AND TO THEN EDUCATE THEM ON THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF DRUG ADDICTION AND DIVERT THEIR INTEREST TO MORE MEANINGFUL THINGS. TABLES REFLECT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DRUG ADDICTS TREATED AT THE DEPARTMENT.