The Macau Association for Drug Rehabilitation (ARTM) continues to play a central role in the treatment and reintegration of people with dependency issues in Macau. Founded in 2000, the organisation works in four main areas: treatment, harm reduction, prevention, and social organisation — also engaging to some extent in drug policy advocacy.
Methamphetamine (“ICE”) remains the most prevalent drug in Macau, with a strong impact on immigrant communities. Substances such as cocaine, on the other hand, have seen their use drop drastically since the pandemic, while alcohol has emerged as one of the most problematic substances, especially due to its devastating effects on mental health and family life. “We have several cases of inpatient treatment triggered by excessive alcohol consumption, some with irreversible cognitive damage. It’s a legal drug, but it causes enormous damage,” Nogueira told *PLATAFORMA*.
Alcohol is directly associated with cases of domestic violence, divorce, and severe emotional disorders. In addition, it is one of the hardest addictions to overcome due to its social normalisation. “Even when someone is in recovery, they are constantly exposed: at parties, dinners, even in the supermarket. It’s a daily struggle,” he warns.
ARTM also draws attention to the lack of structured responses for people with severe mental health problems linked to substance use. “We have a group we call ‘Special Care’ — people who can no longer take part in the normal activities of a therapeutic community,” Nogueira reveals. Some of these people have been at the institution for more than five years, with no viable external alternative.
Currently, ARTM houses about 30 residents in an inpatient setting, but its impact goes much further. Through street outreach programmes, needle collection, and external counselling, the association supports more than 100 people, including those in post-treatment follow-up (“aftercare”) and outpatient care.
According to data from the “Central Registration System of Drug Dependents of Macau,” cited by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), in 2024 the total number of registered drug users in Macau was 148, an increase of 24.4% compared to 2023. However, ARTM warns that these numbers may be inflated by one-off arrests and do not necessarily reflect a real increase in dependency cases. “Hidden use could be much higher, but it only becomes visible when people seek help or when the police intervene,” explains Nogueira.
ARTM’s reintegration work is visible in the community project set up in the Ká Ho area, where a café, gallery, and children’s space are run by people in recovery. “This project not only provided training and experience to those in reintegration, but also helped fight stigma: someone who uses drugs is not a criminal, they are a person with a health problem who needs help,” the president stresses.
ARTM maintains close cooperation with schools, minority communities, and government bodies such as the Social Welfare Bureau, but it is calling for more institutional support for spaces such as its community centre, which it considers “somewhat neglected” despite its cultural and social potential.
“We’re doing our part; every month we have a different exhibition. But we need more support to promote this space and keep changing mindsets,” he concludes.
