Implementation and Effectiveness of Multidiscipline-Integrated Addiction Treatment Model

Methamphetamine (MA) use disorder is a serious legal and health problem worldwide. Reports from Ministry of Justice in Taiwan revealed that the MA-related crimes has tremendously increased over the past decade. The arrested users of scheduled II drugs, MA mainly, has surged from 34,886 in 2014 to 54,190 in 2016 in Taiwan. It is critical to tackle the emerging problems in Taiwan.

Management of MA use disorder in clinical settings is challenging. Approaches with integrated bio-psycho-social interventions, along with the engagement of families and self-help groups are strongly recommended. The Matrix intensive outpatient program has been developed in UCLA to help the psychostimulant misusers in the Southern California in 1980's.With integration of the existing evidence of addiction researches and empirically supported cognitive-behavior treatment techniques, the Matrix model developed manuals to address knowledge and skills needed for drug users in their early recovery and relapse prevention. The treatment was delivered in a 16-week intensive structured group sessions. There was also a 12-week educational sessions for the in-treatment individuals and their families. A substantial body of evidence has demonstrated the successful experience of the Matrix treatment model in management a broad spectrum of addictive disorders in many countries.

The objectives of the pilot project are to set up a multi-center collaborative clinical network with implementation of an integrated addiction treatment program modified from the UCLA Matrix model. Via the establishment of standardized subject recruitment criteria, treatment and outcome assessment procedures, the study aims to assess the adherence of participating clinical organizations to the study protocol, the acceptance of participating MA misusers for the integrated treatment program as well as the outcomes and their determinants for the treatment models.