Effectiveness of a Brief Home-Based Social Work Motivational Intervention for Male Methamphetamine Users in Tehran: A Randomized Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT

Methamphetamine, a highly addictive psychostimulant drug, is widely used by substance users who are not motivated to undergo treatment throughout the world, including Iran. This research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief home-based social work motivational intervention (HSWMI) to encourage male methamphetamine users to participate in a treatment program. Method: Fifty-six unmotivated male methamphetamine users participated in a randomized controlled trial. The case group received the HSWMI in addition to the usual consulting services in the clinic; the control group just received the usual consulting services. Data were collected 7 and 90 days after the intervention to evaluate participation and retention in a treatment program. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: Drug users with a mean age of 32.55 years and mean duration of drug use of 7.73 years, participated in the case (n = 28) and control (n = 28) groups. The case group participated in treatment programs significantly more than the control group and the retention rate for the case group was significantly higher than for the control group. Conclusion: This brief HSWMI was effective to increase the motivation of methamphetamine users to participate and remain in treatment programs. This intervention can be implemented by social workers in substance use treatment centers.

KEYWORDS:

• Methamphetamine use
• motivational intervention
• home-based social work

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Ms Mahbubeh Abbasi for supporting the study. We would also like to thank all families and patients who helped us during the study. The trial is registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT2015012020733N1). The University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, supported this trial.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.