Using Friendship Bench to help women in Vietnam who use methamphetamine

Friendship Bench for Women Who Use Methamphetamine in Vietnam

NIH-funded research Hanoi Medical University · NIH-10976408

This study is looking at how a supportive program called the Friendship Bench can help women in Vietnam who use methamphetamine by improving their mental health and reducing their drug use, and it will compare this approach to regular mental health care to see which works better.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHanoi Medical University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Hanoi, Vietnam)
Project IDNIH-10976408 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the use of the Friendship Bench, a mental health intervention, to support women in Vietnam who use methamphetamine. The project aims to assess the mental health needs of these women and adapt the Friendship Bench approach to fit their specific cultural context. Through a randomized trial, the effectiveness of this adapted intervention will be compared to standard psychiatric care, focusing on improving mental health and reducing methamphetamine use. The research will also evaluate how well the intervention is accepted and implemented in the community.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are women in Vietnam who are using methamphetamine and experiencing mental health issues.

Not a fit: Patients who do not use methamphetamine or do not have mental health concerns may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a culturally appropriate mental health support system that improves the well-being of women who use methamphetamine.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that community-based mental health interventions like the Friendship Bench can be effective in other contexts, suggesting potential for success in this novel application.

Where this research is happening

Hanoi, Vietnam

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.