Drug Treatment Matrix

The Drug Treatment Matrix maps the domain of the treatment of problem drug use among adults (another deals with alcohol-related problems) onto two intersecting dimensions, and for each sub-domain (a cell) lists the most important UK-relevant research and guidance. Across the columns, the ‘Intervention level’ dimension moves from specific interventions through how their impacts are affected by the widening contexts of practitioners, management, the organisation, and whole area or national treatment systems. Down the rows, the ‘Intervention type’ dimension segments into the major types of interventions implemented at these levels. Visit the About the matrices page for more on their origins and construction.

Click individual cells in the table below to see the documents selected for that cell and (see below) the Matrix Bite commentary. Alternatively, see this résumé of the entire Matrix Bites course for a more conventional row-by-row presentation.

Matrix Bites Fortnightly cell-by-cell introduction to the matrices cumulating to a foundation course on the treatment evidence-base. Each bite was incorporated in its cell in the table and remains available for you access. Click row title for an introduction to that row’s bites, or click a cell and in the resulting page unfold the bite by clicking the Matrix Bite link at the bottom.

COLUMNS

Staff working directly with clients and patients may find columns A and B most relevant;
Their managers columns C and D;
Commissioners and planning partnerships column E.

ROWS
Needle exchange and other harm reduction staff may find row 1 most relevant;
Staff in specialist medical services rows 2 and 3;
Counsellors and therapists in specialist services rows 2 and 4;
Staff working for the criminal justice system rows 2 and 5.

CELLS
Where available, each cell includes links (or links to corresponding Effectiveness Bank analyses) to a few:
S Seminal studies from the past of lasting relevance
K Key studies; usually more recent studies of particular importance
R Reviews of the research on this topic
G Guidelines on practice based on research
more Searches for other relevant documents on the Effectiveness Bank web site

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