Resistance to drug abuse treatment: A comparison of drug users who accept or decline treatment referral assessment

Many drug abusers do not seek help in formal treatment settings and little is known about their resistance to treatment. In this study, we offered a t reatment referral assessment to a sample of 283 drug users. Only 58 subject s (or 20.5% of the sample) accepted this offer. We explored differences bet ween those who accepted the treatment referral assessment and those who dec lined the opportunity. Logistic regression identified predictors of accepta nce related to higher levels of severity in drug use and higher scores on a motivation and readiness scale. Among those who declined the assessment, 4 3.1% denied drug use, 37.3% thought their drug use was not a problem, and 1 6.4% expressed no interest in treatment Further analysis showed that scores on motivation and readiness were positively related to a higher level of s everity in employment problems, family problems, and drug use, and to havin g a history of prior treatment.