To deepen students’ understanding of addictive behaviors, Prof. Cheng Teng IP, Assistant Professor for the “Behavioral Addiction” course at the Center for Cognitive and Brain Science of the University of Macau, collaborated with the “Christian New Life Fellowship Association (in Macau) – WE POINT” to conduct a field study visit on the morning of Thursday, March 13, 2025.
With great enthusiasm and professional knowledge, the center staff delivered a comprehensive introduction to the development history, mission, Macau’s drug rehabilitation support services and the status of service recipients. The introduction not only provided a thorough overview for the faculty and students about the center but also offered them a more intuitive grasp of the current situations for addiction behavior intervention services in Macau.
During the lecture, the staff emphasized the practical experiences in the intervention in cases of alcohol abuse. Through the analysis of specific cases, they demonstrated a series of professional workflows and methods, from the initial contact, trust relationship estimation, needs assessment, development of personalized intervention plans, to implementation of interventions, and long-term follow-up support. The combination of theory and practice enhanced students’ deeper comprehension of the addiction intervention while demonstrated the application of their theoretical knowledge in practical work.
Furthermore, to provide students much more authentic understanding of the psychological journey and recovery process, the center specially invited service recipient to share his personal experiences. The service recipient courageously recounted his past struggles, the progression of how the initially encountered substance abuse, and the gradual path towards recovery with the help of the “WE POINT” Center.
During the interactive session, students actively engaged by raising questions regarding the etiology of addictive behaviors, intervention methods, and challenges in recovery. The professional responses and practical insights provided by the staff offered valuable learning resources and inspiration for them.
The visit not only enabled students to combine lesson learning with practical cases to enhance their understanding of the “Behavioral Addiction” course, but also broadened their horizons, fostering a comprehensive awareness of the operational mechanisms and societal roles of the social service organizations in addiction intervention in Macau.
The representative of “WE POINT” center provided an overview of the organization.
The Service Recipient shared his experiences
The center’s staff introduced the organization of alcohol abuse intervention services.
University faculty and students conducted discussion with the center’s staff.
Group Photo