Contact the project director,
Liz Evans, at:
laevans@ucla.edu
Yih-Ing Hser,
Principal Investigator
Elizabeth Evans, Project Director
Kris Langabeer, Principal Editor
China faces the challenge of dual epidemics of drug use and HIV/AIDS and recently methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs were implemented nationwide. This rapid expansion of treatment has been hampered by underutilization of MMT and high MMT dropout rates. To enhance understanding of these issues, and congruent with NIDA’s mission of promulgating research-based interventions to improve treatment services globally, Dr. Yih-Ing Hser is currently leading two projects.
“Improving Methadone Maintenance Treatment Compliance and Outcomes in China” (PI: Yih-Ing Hser, Ph.D.; NIDA R21 DA025252-01) is a collaboration between the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP), the Shanghai Mental Health Center (Co-PI: Min Zhao, M.D., Ph.D), and the Yunnan Institute for Drug Abuse (Co-PI: Jianhua Li, Ph.D.). Motivational incentives (MI; a form of contingency management) have been well researched and proven efficacious by many studies conducted in Western countries. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of using a MI intervention to reduce treatment dropout and opiate use in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in China. A two-phased study, the goal of the developmental phase is to adapt study protocols and assessment questionnaires to the local community via input from focus group participants and community advisory board members. The second phase is a pilot-test of the MI intervention in several MMT clinics located in Shanghai and Kunming and involving approximately 320 MMT patients. This project is scheduled to continue through July 2011.
“Reducing HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse: Linking Compulsory Rehabilitation to Methadone Maintenance” (PI: Yih-Ing Hser, Ph.D.; NIDA R21 DA025385-01) is a collaboration between the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP) and the Shanghai Mental Health Center (Co-PI: Min Zhao, M.D., Ph.D) to develop and pilot-test a Recovery Management Intervention (RMI) program for heroin addicts released from compulsory rehabilitation in China. The study will explore the effectiveness of the intervention in improving the transition to the community and access to methadone maintenance treatment. Activities are scheduled to continue through August 2010.
