Region’s drug rehabilitation centers improving, says ARTM head

Augusto Nogueira

The Association of Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau (ARTM) executive director, Augusto Nogueira, said drug rehabilitation services and facilities in the region have been improving, adding that the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) have significantly contributed to reducing new HIV/AIDS infections among currently injecting drug users.
Last month, ARTM inaugurated its latest facility in Ka Ho; the facility became operational on July 22 and aims to assist illegal substance abuse addicts.
The center currently offers various treatment services from 3 to 12 months treatment, 30 days detox treatment and a 15-day detox relapse treatment.
However, in the case of alcohol addictions, the center does not provide any alcohol detoxification services as this service can be appropriately catered to by local hospitals.
According to Nogueira, ARTM’s latest center in Ka Ho offers treatment services for people with alcohol and gambling addiction, adding that the center is also considering its capability to accommodate victims of domestic violence.

The center also offers an outpatient follow up treatment for those who are unwilling to undergo a full rehabilitation, but would like to have follow up appointments.
ARTM’s Ka Ho facilities can accommodate 50 men, 20 women and ten special care; predominately people with HIV/AIDS, and more broadly health issues related to drug consumption.
Although the director declined to state how much was invested in establishing its second rehabilitation center, he mentioned ARTM is “thankful for the help and support of IAS.”
Meanwhile, Nogueira told the Times that there has been a gradual increase in the number of people the center is housing, adding that ARTM has implemented the ‘Needle Syringe Program’ which helped in lowering the number of people at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

“Together [with] Social Welfare Bureau, we are responsible for zero new infections of HIV/AIDS among the IDUs (Inject Drug Users). 
Macau has a high quality of services to help those in need to recover from drug addiction”, he wrote.
“What’s important [is that the MSAR should] have adequate laws that allow people in need to use our services for treatment,” he added.
Nogueira also noted that the public should trust the treatment services available in the region and argued that placing individuals in a prison is not the solution as many would relapse.
“It will be interesting to analyze all those who were sentenced to prison for drug consumption and petty crimes associated with drug use and abuse [and see] how many have relapsed,” he explained.
Despite several examples coming from developed countries where anti-drug policies advocate the decriminalization of drug consumption in order to control the problem, Macau recently introduced a law with heavier penalties for drug trafficking and consumption.