Taiwan/China Heroin Recovery Project 

Location(s): Asia, Taiwan and China, Taipei, Taiwan; Mainland, China
Target Population: 
Chinese heroin addicts in recovery in Taiwan and in mainland China
Project Team: 

An-Pyng Sun, PhD and Flavio F. Marsiglia, PhD

Project Status: 
Active
Funding: 
GCAHR International Initiatives

In partnership with the University of Nevada Las Vegas and Bali Psychiatric Center, Taipei, Taiwan, this project aims at gathering information about the recovery process and associate experiences of Chinese heroin addicts in recovery in Taiwan and in mainland China.  

Primary Health Outcome

Trauma, heroin use, recovery resources

Approach

Interviews with adults (20 years or older) with heroin use disorders, recruited at substance abuse treatment centers.

Key Findings

The results showed that the recovering Chinese experience traumas prior to heroin-use onset and throughout their heroin-use career. Themes related to the traumas include the historical economic transition, the value of family orientation, an emphasis on scholarly pursuits, the shame orientation, and a scarcity of resources conducive to recovery.