Objective:To explore the effect of motivational enhancement group intervention conducted by nur-ses on the motivation of self-improvement,relapse tendency and self-esteem in the recovering male amphetamine addicts.Methods:Ninety-eight recovering male amphetamine addicts in the Compulsory Detoxification Center were randomly divided into control group(n=54)and motivational enhancement group(n=44).The addicts in the con-trol group received routine education while those in the motivational enhancement group received routine education combined with a 12-week motivational enhancement group intervention conducted by nurses.The Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale(SOCRATES),Relapse Tendency Questionnaire,and Rosenberg Self-es-teem Scale(RSES-T)were applied to measure the effect,before and after the intervention.Results:In both two groups,the scores of RSEST,questionnaire of relapse tendency,and self-confidence of detoxification were lower af-ter 12-week intervention than at the baseline(Ps＜0.05).After 12-week intervention,all the above scores were lower in the motivational enhancement group than in the control group(Ps＜0.05).Conclusion:Compared with routine education,the motivational enhancement group intervention conducted by nurses may be more effective to improve their self-confidence in drug rehabilitation and prevention of relapse in recovering male amphetamine ad-dicts,however,the improvement on self-esteem is limited.