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Aiming at high coverage 以高覆蓋為目標

(updated on 2013/06/10)

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Methadone treatment is an important means of reducing harm in injection heroin users. Substitution of heroin with methadone protects one from HIV infection. Coverage of methadone treatment is an indicator of protection of public health. In the map a darker colour reflects a higher coverage of methadone treatment in the respective district. Despite the small area size of Hong Kong, spatial variation of methadone treatment coverage can be demonstrated.

美沙酮治療是緩減毒品禍害的一項主要措施，可以減低濫用海洛英人士受感染愛滋病的危機。為保障公眾健康，美沙酮治療的覆蓋尤其重要。圖中深顏色表示高覆蓋地區。儘管香港面積小，各區美沙酮服務的覆蓋並不盡相同。

Methadone 美沙酮

Methadone can be used as analgesic, cough suppressant and anti-addictive maintenance in people who are on opioids. Back in the 1970s, in order to reduce drug dependence amongst heroin users, the Hong Kong Government established methadone maintenance programme and opened clinics to provide methadone to heroin users. Oral methadone has longer action (24 to 36 hours) as compared to heroin (6 to 8 hours). Its action is to occupy the brain receptor sites affected by heroin, thereby blocking the effects as well as relieving the craving and withdrawal symptoms. Methadone maintenance reduces unsafe needle sharing and potentially reduces blood borne infections. Methadone maintenance is a form of harm reduction measure, as it potentially reduces criminal offences associated with drug addiction and leads heroin users back to a normal life.
美沙酮可以用作為鎮痛藥、抑制咳嗽及用以治療有吸食海洛英等習慣的吸毒者。早於上世紀70年代，為了減少吸食海洛英使用者的毒癮，香港政府建立美沙酮診所提供美沙酮作為代用療法。口服美沙酮的藥效可以維持24至36小時，比海洛英（6至8小時）為長。在體內美沙酮佔據被海洛英影響的腦受體，阻止毒品發揮功效，大大減低倚賴及毒癮癥狀。口服美沙酮能減少因共用針筒而引起血液感染的傳染病。美沙酮代用療法有效幫助吸毒者回復正常生活，以及減少毒品買賣而引發的種種罪案問題。