Development of a Community-Based Rehabilitation Model for Methamphetamine Addicts Using Thai Traditional Medicine and Alternative Medicine at Nong Khaem Landfill Community, Nong Khaem District, Bangkok

Abstract

This research aimed to study, develop, and evaluate a new community-based treatment and rehabilitation model for methamphetamine addicts that integrates Thai traditional and alternative medicine (TTM CBTx model) in Nong Khaem garbage dump community between November 2024 and November 2025. The study was divided into three phases. Phase 1 evaluated the existing community-based treatment model through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with four stakeholder groups: administrators, practitioners, patients, and relatives or community leaders; totaling 60 participants. The data were analyzed using content analyses. Phase 2 involved a participatory workshop with the samples from Phase 1 to utilize the findings in developing a new model tailored to the local context. Phase 3, a quasi-experimental study, applied the new model to 23 volunteered patients. Outcomes were assessed before and after a 16-week treatment, along with an 8-weeks follow-up, using stress and quality of life assessment tools.

The results revealed that the previous model's strengths included a holistic therapeutic approach with active family and community involvement; however, it faced limitations regarding personnel, data management, and cultural contexts. After implementing the new model, it was found that following the 16-week treatment, patients experienced a significant decrease in stress and an improvement in quality of life. Furthermore, the 8-week follow-up demonstrated that the patients' mental health and quality of life continued to improve or remained stable. This reflects that the new model can effectively assist patients in achieving sustainable abstinence, highlighting a high non-relapse rate of 86.96%.