title: Pilot trial of a recovery management intervention for heroin addicts released from compulsory rehabilitation in China.
abstract: China faces the challenge of dual epidemics of drug use and HIV/AIDS. Despite the high relapse rate among heroin addicts released from compulsory rehabilitation facilities, there are few programs available in China to assist these addicts in the community. We pilot-tested in China a Recovery Management Intervention (RMI) program designed to facilitate early detection of relapse and prompt linkage from compulsory rehabilitation to the community and, if participants relapse, to community-based methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs. One hundred heroin addicts were randomly assigned to either the Standard Care group (n = 50) or the RMI group (n = 50). At the end of the 3-month trial, participants in the RMI group, relative to the standard care group, demonstrated positive outcomes in recidivism due to relapse (0 vs. 6%, p = .08; d = 0.354), MMT participation (8% vs. 0, p = 0.06; d = 0.417), and employment (33% vs. 2%, p < .001; d = 0.876), although no difference was found in urine testing results (8.5% vs. 8.7%; d = 0.013) among interviewed participants. These pilot study results were based on a small sample size and short-term observation, suggesting the need for more research to further improve and test RMI effectiveness with larger samples over a longer period of time in order to provide evidence in support of RMI as an effective strategy for community reintegration among addicts released from rehabilitation facilities in China.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. yhser@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Yih-Ing
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Hser
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012008:Recurrence; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone