Intensive Outpatient Program Matrix Model
Problems addressed
Drug abuse
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Adults (18 to 59 years)
Where the program was applied
Ambulatory - Health service centers
Country of application
United States
Description

This is an intensive treatment for psychoactive substance use in adults. The aim is to promote treatment for chemical dependency and stability in the abstinence process.
The program consists of relapse prevention groups, education, community support, individual counseling, and drug testing.
Patients are accompanied by a therapist using a cognitive behavioral approach and motivational interviewing, with referral to specialized services and monitoring by recurrent testing. The intervention is implemented three times a week and lasts 16 weeks.

Impact evaluations

An impact assessment showed that participants had a 44% reduction in cocaine abuse detected through urinalysis [1].
A second study identified a 67.3% reduction in abstinence, with methamphetamine addicts showing significantly better results than those who consumed cocaine [2].
A third study observed significant reductions in cocaine abuse during the 12-month study period [3].
The latter study showed better treatment retention and program completion than the Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) condition. However, after the six-month follow-up period, participants in both conditions demonstrated an almost tripled reduction in average days of methamphetamine abuse compared to the baseline; the treatment superiority of the Matrix Model approach for adults was not demonstrated at post-treatment measurement points [4].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Rawson, R. A [R. A.], Obert, J. L [J. L.], McCann, M. J [M. J.] & Ling, W [W.] (1991). Psychological approaches for the treatment of cocaine dependence--a neurobehavioral approach. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 11(2), 97–119. https://doi.org/10.1300/J069v11n02_07

[2] Shoptaw, S., Rawson, R. A [R. A.], McCann, M. J [M. J.] & Obert, J. L [J. L.] (1994). The Matrix model of outpatient stimulant abuse treatment: Evidence of efficacy. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 13(4), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.1300/J069v13n04_02

[3] Rawson, R. A [Richard A.], Shoptaw, S. J., Obert, J. L., McCann, M. J [Michael J.], Hasson, A. L., Marinelli-Casey, P. J., Brethen, P. R. & Ling, W [Walter] (1995). An intensive outpatient approach for cocaine abuse treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 12(2), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/0740-5472(94)00080-B

[4] Rawson, R. A [Richard A.], Marinelli-Casey, P., Anglin, M. D., Dickow, A., Frazier, Y., Gallagher, C., Galloway, G. P., Herrell, J., Huber, A., McCann, M. J [Michael J.], Obert, J., Pennell, S., Reiber, C., Vandersloot, D. & Zweben, J. (2004). A multi-site comparison of psychosocial approaches for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 99(6), 708–717. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00707.x

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