NCJ Number
185205
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Dated: Summer 2000 Pages: 555-574
Date Published
2000
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study compares drug users who accept or decline treatment referral assessment.
Abstract
The study offered a treatment referral assessment to a sample of 283 drug users. Only 58 subjects (20.5 percent of the sample) accepted the offer. Logistic regression identified predictors of acceptance related to higher levels of severity in drug use and higher scores on a motivation and readiness scale. Among those who declined the assessment, 43.1 percent denied drug use, 37.3 percent thought their drug use was not a problem and 16.4 percent expressed no interest in treatment. Scores on motivation and readiness were positively related to a higher level of severity in employment problems, family problems and drug use, and to having a treatment history. Individual drug user characteristics constitute only one set of factors that influence how treatment is used. Affordability, availability, accessibility and other inherent characteristics of both the treatment delivery system and treatment programs affect treatment entry. Factors contributing to motivation and readiness are mostly represented by social pressures. How to enhance and maintain users’ motivation for treatment is a focus for future studies. Tables, references