Substance Abuse Assessment Unit

The Kwai Chung Hospital Substance Abuse Assessment Unit (SAAU) is one of the nine substance abuse clinics under the Hospital Authority, and it was established in 1995. It serves the population in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, Wong Tai Sin, and North Lantau Districts.

Target Service Users

SAAU provides services to individuals who are experiencing co-occurring substance misuse or alcohol dependence along with mental health issues. Referrals can be made by social workers, clinical psychologists, and registered medical practitioners. Additionally, service users (hereafter called ‘patient’) can also self-refer by dialing the number: 29598082. SAAU offers a range of voluntary services, including holistic health assessments, addiction counseling, brief in-patient detoxification, as well as outpatient and day hospital services.

Scope of Services

Out-patient Services

Experienced psychiatric nurses conduct a comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessment of patient. Through motivational interviewing, patient’s motivation to overcome addiction is enhanced. Patient will receive addiction counseling and be arranged for psychiatric consultation, investigation and treatment. Patient will be supported to develop individual detoxification and rehabilitation plan through multidisciplinary collaboration (e.g. clinical psychologist, occupational therapist etc.). Community support and cross-specialty collaboration will be involved in order to prevent relapse and improve recovery.

Day Hospital Services

Day hospital offers a flexible environment that allows patient to receive treatment while also continuing to function within the community. Multidisciplinary team will work with patient to establish individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans. Patient may also choose to undergo a brief period of inpatient detoxification following by rehabilitation in day hospital. Day or out-patient detoxification service can be arranged if appropriate.

In-patient Services

Inpatient services include inpatient detoxification and treatment for psychiatric problems related to addiction. Patient can be admitted to the psychiatric intensive care unit.

Community Partnership

Other than medication treatment, SAAU collaborates with NGOs to conduct therapeutic groups including relapse prevention, emotion management, lifestyle re-structuring and personal growth in order to help patient to maintain abstinence and reintegrate to the community.

With the goal of early identification, intervention and treatment, SAAU plays an active role in Medical Social Collaboration through close partnership with other specialties, Counseling Center for Psychotropic Substance Abusers (CCPSA) and various youth service agencies.

General Enquiry: 2959 8111