COUNSELLING CENTRE FOR PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE ABUSERS

Objectives:

• To help PSAs abstain from their drug-taking habits and develop a healthy lifestyle;
• To increase the awareness of those vulnerable to drug abuse and to steer them away from drugs;
• To reach out to PSAs for timely and early intervention;
• To provide counselling and assistance to family members of PSAs so as to help them deal with the problems;
• To provide professional training for allied professionals with a view to facilitating their assistance to PSAs;
• To maintain active collaboration with stakeholders concerned, e.g. young people service units, schools, medical practitioners and community partners etc. in the identification and intervention process for PSAs;
• To provide preventive education and publicity programs to students of secondary schools, post-secondary institutions, and vocational training organizations, and the general public at community level; and
• To motivate PSAs to seek early assistance and stay with the treatment program through medical support services.

Target Group of Service:

1. Habitual PSAs who have developed physical and/or psychological dependence on drugs;
2. Occasional PSAs who use psychotropic substance for various reasons without medical consultation;
3. Potential PSAs who are in high risk environment/ situation and/or ignorant of the risks and consequences of such abuse;
4. Dischargees form self-financing DTRCs in need, of professional support and aftercare service in the community;
5. Significant others of PSAs, such as parents, families, school personnel and employers, etc;
6. Allied professionals who are working with potential, occasional or habitual PSAs;and
7. Stakeholders and general public, especially young people, at community level.