Social Work and Counselling
Research Focus: Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation
Introduction
Illicit/drug use has long been a social issue engendering public health, social and economic development. High quality empirical research can help provide evidence to understand the complicated drug use patterns and throw light on new knowledge, models and effective strategies for drug treatment, prevention and rehabilitation. Therefore, this research focus strives to create a platform aiming to:
- Promote evidence-based research and practice in drug relapse prevention and rehabilitation
- Develop evidence-informed knowledge to improve our understanding to the possible risk and protective factors on the drug use trajectory from onset, persistence, escalation, and desistence.
- Invite exchange (both in the local and international levels) among academics, policy makers, practitioners, students, and service users on the best models of practice and strategies for drug treatment, prevention and rehabilitation.
Key Research Projects (in the recent 5 years)
| Topic | PI / Co-Investigator | Funding Sources | Award Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluating the effectiveness of a meaning-centered approach in relapse prevention for young psychotropic substance abusers in Hong Kong: A randomized controlled trial. | Dr. TAM Hau-lin, Cherry (PI) | Research Grants Council General Research Fund. | 2021-2023 |
| Research outline qualitative information on drug abuse situation in Hong Kong. |
Prof. LO, T. W. (PI) |
ACAN | 2020-2023 |
| Project MAP – Meaning-Centered Approach Drug Education and Counselling Program. | Dr. TAM Hau-lin, Cherry (PI) | Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (Beat Drugs Fund Project) | 2020-2023 |
| Faith-based treatment for substance addiction in Hong Kong: A naturalistic treatment outcome study. | Dr. YEUNG Wai-keung (PI) | Research Grants Council Early Career Scheme. | 2017-2020 |
| Evaluating the effectiveness of a mindfulness approach in relapse prevention for young psychotropic substance abusers in Hong Kong: A randomized control trial. | Dr. TAM Hau-lin, Cherry (PI) | Research Grants Council Early Career Scheme. | 2016-2018 |
| Consultancy of Research on Rehabilitation Programme Provided for Drug Addiction Treatment Centre (DATC) Programme of the Correctional Services Department. | Prof. LO T. W. (PI) Dr. TAM Hau-lin, Cherry (Co-PI) Dr. YEUNG Wai-keung (Co-PI) |
Correctional Services Department, HKSAR. | 2016-2018 |
Conferences (in the recent 5 years)
| Title of the Conference |
Date |
|---|---|
| The 2nd International Conference on Outreach Work 2019 – Drug Abuse, Hidden Youth & Signature Programmes. | 10 – 13 June 2019 |
| International Conference on Outreach Work 2015 – Youth Gangs, Violence and Female Delinquency. | 3 – 5 December 2015 |
Representative Publications (in the recent 5 years)
| 1. |
Lee, G. K. W., Chan, G. Lo, T.W., Yeung, J. W. K., Tam, H. L., & Guan, X. (2021). An inquiry into the relationship between drug users’ psychological situations and their drug-taking behaviour. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12730. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312730. |
| 2. | Lo, T. W., Yeung, J. W. K., Lee, G. K. W., Tam, H. L., & Chan, G. H. Y. (2020). Drugs as soulmates: The construction and validation of a 12-item soulmate scale to measure substance addiction and loneliness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9408. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249408. |
| 3. | Chan, G. H. Y., Lo, T. W., Lee, G. K. W., & Tam, H. L. (2020). Social capital and social networks of hidden drug abuse in Hong Kong. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 6231; doi:10.3390/ijerph17176231 |
| 4. | Lo, T. W., Yeung, J. W. K. & Tam, H. L. (2020). Substance abuse and public health: a multilevel perspective and multiple responses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7), doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072610. |
| 5. | Yeung, J. W. K., & Cheung, C. K. (2020). Effectiveness of faith-based treatment for substance addiction in Hong Kong: A longitudinal study. in Advances in Psychology Research, A. M. Columbus (Ed.), New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 139, 97 – 122. |
| 6. | Chan, G. H. Y., Lo, T. W., Tam, H. L., & Lee, G. K. W. (2019). Intrinsic Motivation and Psychological Connectedness to Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation: The Perspective of Self-Determination. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(11), 1934. |
| 7. | Tam, H. L., Kwok, S. I., Lo, T. W., Lam S. H. P., & Lee, G. K. W. (2018). Hidden Drug Abuse in Hong Kong: From Social Acquaintance to Social Isolation. Frontiers in Psychiatry, doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00457. |
| 8. | Tam, H. L., Shik, A. W. Y. & Lam, S. S. L. (2016). Using expressive arts in relapse prevention of young psychotropic substance abusers in Hong Kong. Children and Youth Services Review, 60, 88 – 100. |
Experts of the Focus
| Prof. LO Tit Wing | |
| Dr. TAM Hau-lin, Cherry | |
| Dr. YEUNG Wai Keung, Jerf | |
| Dr. CHAN Hong Yee, Gloria | |
| Dr. LEE Kwun Wa, Gabriel |