Media

HKU Centre for Criminology to release global drug policy report on the success of HK’s methadone treatment program over 40 years

17 Oct 2017

Hong Kong’s methadone treatment program, launched by the government in 1975 in response to a growing health and social crises with a growing number of opiate-dependent and heroin-injecting residents, has been taken as a successful case of drug policy reform in a global drug policy report.

A media conference will be held on October 19 (Thursday) on the lunch of the Report: Globally Informed, Locally Responsive: Hong Kong’s Common-Sense Approach to Expanding Methadone Treatment, which is the seventh in a series of publications by the Open Society Foundations’ Global Drug Policy Program that documents positive examples of drug policy reform around the world.

The event is co-hosted by the Centre for Criminology of the University of Hong Kong and Open Society Foundations’ Global Drug Policy Program. Dr. Robert Newman, author of the report and panelists with expertise on drug policy, public health and criminal justice will share their perspectives.

While a number of countries are experimenting with new approaches to drug policy, across much of Asia aggressive drug policies continue to prevail, as seen in the Philippines and Indonesia. One exception to that trend is Hong Kong’s methadone treatment program that was informed by global best practice but localised for the needs of Hong Kong. It is a bright spot in the region that can serve as a model for other countries that want to develop and enact drug policies rooted in public health and social support.

Not only has Hong Kong’s methadone treatment approach provided an essential service to those living with opioid addiction, but it has also contributed to the successful control of HIV and Hepatitis C infection. The program’s success hinges on a number of qualities including accessible hours and locations, robust staffing and an understanding that abstinence should not be the only goal when supporting people with drug dependency.

Details of the media conference:
Date: October 19, 2017 (Thursday)
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Council Chamber of the Faculty of Social Sciences, 11/F, Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU. (map)
Language: English

Dr. Robert Newman will take media interviews earlier at 5pm at the venue to explain the findings. Media representatives interested in interviewing Dr Newman or obtaining an embargoed copy of the report (not to be released before the media conference), please contact Ms. Leona Li at tel: 3917 7459.

List of panelists:

• Dr. Robert Newman, MD, MPH, President Emeritus, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York (report author)
• Prof. Shui Shan Lee, Deputy Director of Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease at The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Dr. Addi KH Chan, Senior Medical & Health Officer, Department of Health, HKSAR
• Dr. Kasia Malinowska, Director of the Global Drug Policy Program at Open Society Foundations
• Prof. Karen A Joe Laidler, Director of Centre for Criminology at The University of Hong Kong (moderator)

For media enquiries, please contact: Ms. Leona Li, Senior Research Assistant, Centre for Criminology, HKU (Tel: 3917 7459/Fax: 2857 4074/Email: crimctr@hku.hk)