After the merge of the Office for the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Addiction and Social Welfare Bureau (SWB) in June 1999, and in order to improve Macao drug treatment services, in August 2001, SWB initiated construction plan of Drug Treatment Complex Centre, which started to operate in October 2002, providing a variety of services, including outpatient detoxification treatment service, methadone treatment and maintenance service, treatment and consultation service for drug dependents, counselling service for young drug dependents, activities and support service, counselling and follow-up on infectious diseases, drug urine test and follow-up on social reintegration. In order to cope with the development of Macao medical services, in 2011, the above-mentioned services of Drug Treatment Complex Centre are provided in various locations, including Areia Preta, Carmo Taipa and Conde de São Januário Hospital [Drug Treatment Centre ] (Methadone), whereas detoxification treatment service for youth are provided in Ilha Verde Youth Counselling Centre. In November 2018, the Ilha Verde Drug Treatment Centre (Methadone) starts to provide services, Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Division and Youth Counselling Centre are also moved to there for operation.
Contents and Area：
After the reorganization of the relevant services, the services provided to the public are :
1. Detoxfiication Treatment Service and Follow-up Service on Social Reintegration
Multi-professional teams composed of doctors, nurses and social workers, provide health care, hygiene education, physical evaluation and medical examination, individual psychological counselling, family counselling, social support and referral services for drug-dependents.
2. Drug Treatment Service (Methadone)
Methadone maintenance treatment programme is provided to individuals addicted to heroin for a long time. The programme consists of medical care, methadone distribution, treatment monitoring and assessment. In addition, it also includes necessary medical check-up, psychological counselling social support and referral services, etc.
3. Counselling and Follow-up on Infectious Diseases of Drug Dependents
Provides intensive counselling, treatment referral and follow-up of cases on infectious diseases, as well as the arrangement of medical examination and counselling on hygiene education, etc. The Centre also supports NGO associations of drug abuse treatment to held activities about infectious disease prevention and training courses for frontline staff.
4. Assistance for Drug Dependents’ families
Helps to solve the drug abuse problems in the families, providing emotional assistance, group activities, seminars, phone counselling and referral services, etc.