Treatment readiness is increasingly recognized as a predictor of treatment engagement for injection drug users (IDUs). The Treatment Attitude Profile (TAP) was developed to predict treatment-seeking behaviors among out-of-treatment substance abusers using data from 535 participants in a NIDA-funded HIV outreach intervention project. At baseline, respondents (average age 34 (sd=7.6)) were predominantly male (66.9%), unemployed (only 67%), poorly educated ( 60% < high school), low income (median monthly income < $500), and minority (60% Hispanic, 28% African American). Primary drugs included heroin (54%), crack (25%), cocaine (17%), and speedball (3%). Subjects averaged 18.5 (sd=7.8) years of drug use and 25 (sd=22) days of use in the past month. 51% reported prior formal treatment.
Analyses are presented to establish the predictive validity of 4 factor-analytically derived TAP subscales: 1) need for treatment (.84), 2) drug problem severity (.85), 3) motivation to quit (.77), and 4) negative attitudes toward formal treatment (.64). Baseline data on TAP measures, demographics (age, education, employment, income, gender, ethnicity), drug history (years/use, # days used past 30 days, and # drugs used past 30 days), and prior treatment (lifetime weeks in treatment) were used to predict service use (Methadone maintenance, Methadone detox, Outpatient Drug-Free, and Residential) in the 3 months since baseline. Logistic regression analyses indicate that only perceived drug severity significantly predicted likelihood of service use (Residential and Outpatient Drug-Free). Analyses support the predictive utility of perceived severity, compared to other TAP dimensions and measures of demographics, drug use, and prior treatment.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: 1. summarize research on predictors of treatment use among IDUs 2. Summarize research on the importance of treatment readiness 3. Compare and contrast available measures of treatment readiness 4. summarize results of present study and problem severity as a predictor of treatment
Keywords: Injection Drug Users, Substance Abuse Treatment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.