Predictive validity of a measure of treatment readiness for out-of-treatment drug users: enhancing prediction beyond demographic and drug history variables

The predictive validity of a treatment readiness measure designed for out-of-treatment drug users, tapping dimensions of perceived problem severity, perceived need for formal treatment, motivation for treatment, and negative attitudes toward treatment is examined using data from a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded HIV outreach intervention in San Antonio, Texas. Logistic regression is used to predict use of substance abuse treatment services three months after program intake on the basis of readiness scores, controlling for demographic and drug history variables. Analyses of data from 673 drug users in an HIV outreach intervention indicated that treatment readiness dimensions accounted for a 12% increase in variation in 'use of any modality' and 14% for 'use or attempted service use'. Only Motivation to Quit was a significant predictor of 'use of any modality' and both Perceived Need for Treatment and Motivation to Quit were significant predictors of 'use or attempted use'. Findings support the importance of the individual's perception of 'readiness' to change their substance-abusing behavior and enter treatment.
INTRODUCTION Identification of injection drug users (IDUs) as an HIV risk group in the early 1980s focused substantial research efforts in the United States (1) and other countries (2) on [...]