Patients with heroin use disorder under methadone maintenance treatment
Since 2005, the Taipei City Hospital Linsen, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Kunming Branch, has operated a methadone outpatient clinic dedicated to serving individuals with heroin use disorder by providing year-round, uninterrupted maintenance therapy. The clinic emphasizes a non-discriminatory and stigma-free medical environment, integrating a multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatry, nursing and case management, social work, psychology, infectious diseases, and gastroenterology. This team-based approach forms a holistic care model for the addiction treatment community. Key features of the clinic include: Dedicated medication administration routes, Facial recognition dispensing system, Diversion programs for individuals with Schedule I and II drug offenses, and inter-district (Guest-Dosing methadone) medication services. The clinic also demonstrates high accessibility and flexibility, such as enhanced treatment for hepatitis C and HIV co-infections, and unique crisis response capabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. By working closely with community, judicial, and research sectors, the clinic effectively fulfills harm reduction and public health goals. Through diverse integration and innovative strategies, it has established a benchmark model for addiction treatment that has received widespread recognition and high patient satisfaction.
The Three key features of our methadone clinic include: Year-round daily dosing services, Holistic care delivered by an integrated multidisciplinary team, and a cross-district "Guest-dosing" service with community-linked addiction support network.
The Three major innovations in our methadone services: A one-stop hepatitis C treatment program, Smart facial recognition integrated with subsidy management and cross-system coordination, and Rapid response with uninterrupted services during the COVID-19 pandemics.
From January 2020 to the end of March 2025, a total of 614 new patients were enrolled in the methadone clinic.
From January 2020 to the end of March 2025, there were 540,918 dosing visits in total.
High retention rate: Over the past five years, the retention rate has consistently reached 98.7%, demonstrating strong patient approval.
Low dropout rate: Over the past five years, the average monthly dropout rate was 1.3%, with all dropout cases systematically reviewed and analyzed.
Subsidy coverage: 100% of patients received central government subsidies for addiction treatment.
Enhanced patient safety: nurses and pharmacists jointly participate in methadone medication inventory management.
Strengthened multidisciplinary team meetings.
Regular staff education and training.
Expanded interdisciplinary collaboration with external organizations.
Participation in annual medical administration audits.
Staff service attitude: 81% reported satisfaction, 3.74% rated it as fair, and 15.2% did not respond.
Hospital environment and facilities: 91.1% reported satisfaction, 0.86% rated it as fair, and 8.05% did not respond.
Waiting time for dosing services: 82.4% reported satisfaction, 0.34% rated it as fair, and 17.2% did not respond.
Research output: The team has published five SCI-indexed articles and one peer-reviewed article.
Research focus: The publications focus on addiction treatment, with particular emphasis on the integration of Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Our clinic is committed to promoting a friendly medical environment, ensuring patients are not burdened by stigma.
We support patients’ recovery through continuous methadone maintenance services, case management, and ongoing accompaniment.
We maintain long-term collaboration with judicial authorities to provide deferred-prosecution addiction treatment.
We offer comprehensive comorbidity care, including management of HIV, hepatitis, and psychiatric conditions.
Team members have received recognition at various levels, including 2 National Anti-Drug Merit Awards, 1 Ministry of Education Social Education Contribution Award (individual), and 2 Outstanding Nursing Personnel Awards.
