Using Friendship Bench to help women in Vietnam who use methamphetamine
Official title: Friendship Bench for Women Who Use Methamphetamine in Vietnam
Funded at Hanoi Medical University · NIH-10976408 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hanoi Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanoi, Vietnam) |
| Project start | September 16, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $70,179 |
| NIH project number | 1K43TW012620-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10976408 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women in Vietnam who are using methamphetamine and experiencing mental health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use methamphetamine or do not have mental health concerns may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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 Medical University
Hanoi, Vietnam Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nguyen, Trang — Hanoi Medical University
- Study coordinator: Nguyen, Trang
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.