Recovery Capital in Patients Receiving Methadone Maintenance Treatment Who Use Methamphetamine in Vietnam

Background: Recovery from substance use disorder may require various types of support to address complex needs. Recovery capital (RC), a measure of resources aiding recovery, could play a vital role in determining recovery outcomes. This study explored RC and related factors in patients on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) who also use methamphetamine. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in December 2023 with 50 participants from a large clinical trial at three MMT clinics in Hanoi, Vietnam. RC was measured using the Brief Assessment of RC (BARC-10). Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the relationships between BARC-10 scores and potentially associated variables such as age, sex, employment, friends and relatives, drug use, mental health, HIV status, MMT-related stigma, and MMT duration. Results: Participants were predominantly male (90%), with a mean age of 44.1 years. The mean duration of MMT was 62.9 months. The mean BARC-10 scores were 47 (SD = 6.2); with the highest item scores were recovery experience and sobriety, and the lowest in social support, and physical health. Employment was positively associated with RC (Coef = 4.68; 95% CI: 0.29-9.07), whereas drug use - measured during intervention trail in the parent study (Coef = -4.20; 95% CI: -8.20 to -0.02) and enacted MMT stigma (Coef = -0.46; 95% CI: -0.82 to -0.09) were negatively associated. Conclusions: Addressing social and structural barriers, such as employment and enacted MMT-related stigma may enhance RC among MMT patients with co-occurring methamphetamine use.