Yangju City Protects 79 Intoxicated Persons in 5 Months Since Opening Integrated Support Center... 'Nation's First Cooperative Model' in the Spotlight

Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Yang Soo-hyun) is drawing attention for its operation of the "Yangju Integrated Support Center for Intoxicated Persons," a model of cooperation between a local government, the police, and a private hospital. The center, run in partnership with Yangju Police Station and Yangju Yes Hospital, is the first of its kind in the country to provide treatment, basic protection, and follow-up care all in one place.

Yang Soo-hyun, Mayor of Yangju City, is holding a business agreement ceremony for the Integrated Support Center for Intoxicated Persons with Yangju Police Station and Yangju Yes Hospital. Provided by Yangju City

Since opening on June 23, the center has provided protection to a total of 79 individuals. Of these, 18 received medical treatment, while 61 were offered basic protection.

The average protection time for those admitted to the center was 3 hours and 33 minutes, significantly reducing the lengthy waiting times that previously occurred at police substations and precincts.

Just before the center opened, an intoxicated person lying on a road in Yangju was involved in a traffic accident. The city explained, "With the center in operation, intoxicated individuals in dangerous situations can be protected immediately, greatly reducing accidents around roads and commercial areas."

Recently, there was a case where a protected individual showed symptoms suggestive of cerebral hemorrhage, such as decreased consciousness and vomiting. Medical staff immediately performed a CT scan and, through emergency services, transferred the person to a higher-level hospital, saving their life. The center also safely protected two foreign nationals with no local ties.

The center is equipped with a six-bed ward, allowing for the observation of individuals who require monitoring after medical treatment. In the Yangju area, there is an average of 193 reports per month to emergency services regarding intoxicated persons. The city operates a system to prevent recurrence through follow-up with the Mental Health Welfare Center, support for alcohol treatment counseling, and post-management of repeat cases.

As news of the center's operation spreads, police agencies and local governments across the country have been making inquiries about benchmarking the model.

Song Mi-ae, head of the Health Administration Division, stated, "The operation of the center has improved accident prevention and emergency response," adding, "We will continue to maintain a sustainable safety management model for intoxicated persons through cooperation with the police and medical institutions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.