Factors affecting an individual's admission into substance abuse treatment

This study was looking at the factors that predicted an individual’s initial entrance into substance abuse treatment. More specifically, this study looked at the influence between an individual’s demographics, preferred drug of choice and number of Interim Groups attended and how these factors related to the individual’s motivation to follow through with substance abuse treatment. The participants in this study were individuals who were on local substance abuse treatment waiting lists. An analysis of the data was conducted using logistic regression. The statistical results indicated that demographics and preferred drug of choice were not predictive of an individual’s substance abuse treatment entry. Factors such as the number of Interim Groups attended and the individual’s motivation and readiness for substance abuse treatment, as measured by the SOCRATES, were found to be significant, although they offered little predictive value regarding subsequent substance abuse treatment attendance. Research and clinical implications of these findings were discussed.