What question did this study set out to answer?

This review aims to synthesize international indicators for treatment success and assess the impact of various treatment modalities on social reintegration.

June 30, 2026Open Access

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

MSMaryam Jafar SameriHamedan University of Medical Sciences MAMajid AlizadehHamedan University of Medical Sciences EMEhsan Moradi-Joo

Key Points

This review aims to synthesize international indicators for treatment success and assess the impact of various treatment modalities on social reintegration.
Conducted systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library.
Screened 4,234 records and extracted data from 28 included studies.
Assessed study quality using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
Core indicators identified in physiological, psychological, and social domains.
Medication-Assisted Treatment with methadone and buprenorphine consistently reduced substance use and relapse rates.
Integrated models of pharmacological and psychosocial approaches outperformed single-modality treatments.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Substance 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. METHODS: Following 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. RESULTS: Core 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. CONCLUSIONS: Effective 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.

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