In Hong Kong, the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) is a registerthat forms the database for the study of drug addiction in the territory. Using ageographic information system-based approach, a pilot study was conducted, whichintegrated data from the CRDA, census, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) re-ports/seroprevalence studies, and methadone clinics service statistics, to supportthe assessment of the trends of heroin addiction, HIV-related risks, and the inter-relationship with sociodemographic attributes in heroin users and the general popu-lation. Apart from the visualization of spatial distribution of heroin users, the studyhad uncovered specific local patterns at district levels. It is noted that despite a gen-eral decline in heroin addiction in Hong Kong, some areas showed a rising patternin selected subpopulations. The increasing use of multidrugs also gave a district-specific pattern. Against the background of a low HIV prevalence in heroin users,the temporospatial pattern of injection provides potentially useful clues to track thespread of HIV risk. The location and coverage of methadone clinics, an importantHIV-prevention strategy, were assessed in context of their public health impacts.It is concluded that the extension of the project to a long-term system would beuseful for the study of addiction epidemiology, so that lessons learned from HongKong can contribute to the global knowledgebase on the development of effectiveresponse to substance abuse.
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