Outcome Evaluation of a Short-Term Hospitalization and Community Support Program for People Who Abuse Ketamine

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health
• Psychosocial Interventions

Background:

• Ketamine abuse is prevalent among young people in Hong Kong, leading to significant urological and medical issues requiring emergency care and hospitalization.
• Hospitalization presents a critical opportunity for mental health professionals to engage young ketamine abusers in interventions.
• The Crisis Accommodation Program (CAP) was developed to address these needs through integrated hospitalization and community support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Crisis Accommodation Program (CAP) in managing ketamine abuse among young people.
• To assess the impact of CAP interventions on drug use, psychological well-being, and readiness for change.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent group design was employed.
• The study compared outcomes for a treatment group (n=84) participating in CAP with a comparison group (n=34) with a history of ketamine abuse but not in the program.
• Interventions included cognitive and psychosocial assessments, motivational interviewing, emotions management, and lifestyle redesign during hospitalization, followed by community support.

Main Results:

• The CAP treatment group showed significant improvements in motivation for treatment, reduced drug use, enhanced cognitive function, and healthier lifestyle scores over 13 weeks.
• Compared to the control group, the treatment group exhibited significant decreases in anxiety and treatment needs, advancing from pre-contemplation to contemplation or preparation stages of change.
• No significant changes were observed in lifestyle or self-efficacy for drug avoidance.

Conclusions:

• The Crisis Accommodation Program (CAP) is effective in reducing ketamine use, decreasing anxiety, and promoting a greater readiness for treatment among young abusers.
• The findings underscore the potential for healthcare professionals to engage young ketamine users in psychosocial interventions during medical treatment for urological issues.
• The CAP highlights the crucial role of collaboration between hospital services and community social work agencies in addiction management.