Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42365295›Full record

SynthesisSubstance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy2026

Evaluating the effectiveness of substance use disorder treatment centers: a systematic review of international standards and outcomes.

Maryam Jafar Sameri, Majid Alizadeh, Ehsan Moradi-Joo, Nazila Azizi, Sedighe Sadat Tabatabaei Far

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Maryam Jafar SameriFaculty of Medicine, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran.
Majid AlizadehFaculty of Medicine, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran. majid.128.am@gmail.com.
Ehsan Moradi-JooHealthcare Services Management, Department of Public Health, School of Health, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran.
Nazila AziziStudent Research Committee, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Sedighe Sadat Tabatabaei FarStudent Research Committee, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSubstance Use Disorder represents a complex global public health challenge, yet the effectiveness of treatment centers remains debated due to lack of consensus on standardized international indicators and heterogeneity of treatment modalities. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize key international indicators for measuring treatment success, compare effectiveness of different modalities, and assess impact on social reintegration.

methodsFollowing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 and Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome frameworks, we conducted systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Two reviewers independently screened 4,234 records, extracted data from 28 included studies, and assessed quality using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Heterogeneity was quantified using I-squared and tau-squared statistics.

resultsCore indicators emerged in three domains: physiological (abstinence, daily functioning), psychological (reduced anxiety/depression, craving reduction), and social (employment, family relations). Medication-Assisted Treatment with methadone and buprenorphine demonstrated consistent effectiveness in reducing substance use and preventing relapse. Psychosocial interventions, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention, significantly enhanced quality of life. Integrated models combining pharmacological and psychosocial approaches outperformed single-modality treatments. However, 78.6% of studies originated from four high-income countries, and only 17.9% reported outcomes beyond 12 months.

conclusionsEffective Substance Use Disorder treatment requires integrated models with standardized, multidimensional outcome indicators. Future research must prioritize long-term outcomes and address the substantial evidence gap in low- and middle-income countries. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Outcome Assessment, Health CareSubstance Abuse Treatment CentersSubstance-Related DisordersHumansQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeEffectiveness evaluationInternational standardsMedication-assisted treatmentQuality of lifeSubstance use disorderSystematic reviewTreatment centerTreatment outcome

Identifiers

PMID42365295
PMCPMC13599203

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.