[A new strategy for drug abuse treatment: the rationale and practice of the Matrix Model]

The drug abuse treatment in Japan predominantly relies upon pharmacological approaches while cognitive-behavioral approaches or relapse prevention strategies are rarely seen. The aim of this paper is to introduce the Matrix Model which is the evidence-based comprehensive treatment package for substance use disorder. The Matrix Model has several treatment components including cognitive-behavioral therapy (relapse prevention), individual counseling, psycho-education, family education, self-help participation and urine testing. It also utilizes the techniques of the motivational interviewing and contingency management. Since the model was originally developed in the US, careful considerations must be made in order to apply it in Japanese treatment settings because of cultural and social differences. Moreover, several challenges are also found for the implementation of the model in Japan. These practical issues are considered and future research directions are proposed.