Comparative Evaluation of PUSPENs and C&Cs (PSVCC)

University of Malaya

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Opioid-Related Disorders

Treatments: Drug: Methadone

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT02698098

K24DA017072 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

F30MH105153 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

HIRGA E000001-20001 (Other Identifier)

1206010403

R01DA025943 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This observational study compares the health and social outcomes between opioid-dependent individuals who are either recently released from a compulsory drug detention center (CDDC) or recently discharged from a voluntary treatment center (VTC) providing methadone maintenance therapy, in Malaysia.

Full description

In July 2010, the National Anti-Drug Agency of Malaysia (NADA) introduced a non-punitive system of treatment and care for people who use drugs, voluntary treatment centers (VTCs), called 'Cure & Care' clinics, offering free methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) to opioid-dependent drug users. These centers were opened alongside existing compulsory drug detention centers (CDDCs), where people who use drugs continue to be detained involuntarily without access to evidence-based treatment. Given that both of these programs are operated by NADA but espouse vastly different responses to drug use, we compared health and social outcomes between opioid-dependent individuals recently released from CDDCs and recently initiated into MMT in the new VTCs.

Enrollment: 281 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV criteria for opioid dependence
• Physically and psychologically capable of understanding and undergoing informed consent process
• Within 90 days of release or discharge and intending to return to Klang Valley region
• For VTC arm, came to the C&C to start MMT

Trial design

281 participants in 2 patient groups

Compulsory Drug Detention Center

Description:

Conventional drug treatment in Malaysia and Southeast Asia including detention for an average of 2 years, including educational and job skills programs and physical education. Medical therapies for treating substance use disorders, such as opioid-agonist treatment (OAT), are unavailable.

Voluntary Treatment Center

Description:

Voluntary drug treatment facilities, called 'Cure and Care' centers in Malaysia, that provide methadone maintenance therapy in addition to psychosocial interventions, recreational programming, and vocational training, among other activities.

Treatment:

Drug: Methadone