PEER, FAMILY, AND MOTIVATIONAL INFLUENCES ON DRUG-TREATMENT PROCESS AND RECIDIVISM FOR PROBATIONERS

Treatment efforts appear to be effective in reducing crime among drug using individuals, but components of the treatment process associated with client improvement need to be identified. Furthermore. these elem ents of treatment may play an intermediate role in the connection betw een client background characteristics and later criminal activity. The current study examines a structural equation model including client p erceptions of their drug related problems, peer deviance, and family d ysfunction as influences upon the formation of therapeutic relationshi ps during treatment and rearrests following treatment. Results showed therapeutic relationships were positively associated with recognition of drug related problems and negatively related to rearrest. Peer devi ance also was positively related to rearrest. (C) 1997 John Wiley & So ns, Inc.