Keeping in view the increased prevalence and scarcity of psychological treatment options for SUD, Pakistan Institute of living and learning, has planned a study that aims to:

1. Culturally adapt an existing CBT-based Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness intervention for substance misuse in Pakistan.
2. Test the feasibility and acceptability of the culturally adapted MI-CBT (CAMIAB) intervention in a randomized control trial (RCT).

The study will include both males and females of age 18 and above with SUD. Recruitment of participants will take place from primary care and volunteer organizations/drug rehabilitation centers across Pakistan.

CBT involves numerous treatment elements including motivational and cognitive elements and skill-building interventions. It has shown excellent effectiveness in the treatment of substance misuse both as a mono-therapy and as a combination of treatments. Motivational interviewing is a promising option to enhance engagement and adherence whereas, mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) reduces the risk and severity of relapse by enabling individuals to cope with cravings. There is little research as well as the availability of these evidence-based treatments in Pakistan.

CMAP Plus study aims to test a culturally adapt CMAP Plus Intervention for self-harm in people with SUD. For intervention adaption, we have conducted focus groups with health professionals and service users to explore their views on how to adapt existing interventions for people with SUD who have a history of self-harm. CMAP Plus intervention is an extension of existing problem-solving intervention that will incorporate motivational Interviewing and mindfulness practices along with CBT techniques to manage substance use-related difficulties and prevent relapse.

Currently, we are in the adaptation stage, after this, we will test the CMAP Plus intervention with 80 participants aged 18 and above with SUD who also have a history of self-harm. This project will be conducted across five cities including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Quetta Pakistan. Participants will receive 12 one-to-one sessions on a weekly basis and learn problem-solving skills to reduce the reoccurrence of self-harm episodes and prevent relapse.

We along with the collaboration of Prof. Marie-Clarie Marie-Claire, Van Hout is Professor of Public Health Policy and Practice at the Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, UK and United Nations Office on Drug and Crime have started a joint research project on parenting interventions the for prevention of substance use.  

The project called “Strong Families Programme” is currently in the ethics approval process and will be launched soon.

Suicide and substance use both contribute significantly to the global burden of mortality and morbidity. We are conducting a qualitative research project to explore the perspectives of close relatives or friends of deceased persons on the actual reasons for the use of substances and reasons for suicide. The aim is to better understand the role of substance use (particularly, alcohol and drug use) in the overall lifestyles and suicides of deceased men in Pakistan.

The study has been approved by the National Bioethics Committee of Pakistan and we have started interviews. On average interview lasts between 60-90 minutes. We are aiming to interview up to 20 participants. The study findings will be shared with potential stakeholders, participants, community leaders, and mental health professionals. We will also share summary of findings in local languages.