This paper aims to assess the model of care, patient demographics, service delivery effectiveness and governance structures at the Umm Slal Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre (USTRC) in Qatar, a facility providing directed care to individuals mandated for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.
A mixed-methods evaluation was conducted, including retrospective analysis of randomly selected patient electronic medical records, a document review of the centre’s guidelines and policies, reflective analyses of patient and staff interviews and a staff survey. Service delivery was benchmarked against the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime and World Health Organization quality assurance standards.
USTRC has developed a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment model providing detoxification, stabilization, residential rehabilitation and psychosocial interventions. However, gaps were identified in governance, policy, aftercare and gender-specific provision. High rates of poly-substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders were noted among patients, emphasizing the importance of expanding accredited staff training in SUD treatment and fostering non-judgemental care. In addition, greater integration with community-based services for post-discharge care was recognized as important for reducing relapse and supporting recovery.
This paper provides the first comprehensive evaluation of a mandated substance use treatment facility in Qatar, addressing a critical gap in the literature on directed care within the Gulf region.
