Factors associated with readiness to change drug use among needle-exchangeusers

To determine if frequent needle-exchange program (NEP) use is associated wi th lower readiness to change drug use, NEP clients in Providence, RI were i nterviewed regarding their drug use, HIV risk, health, and past use of drug treatment services in 1997-1998. Readiness to change drug use was assessed using a nine-step decision ladder. Based on this assessment, 14.3% of the sample were classified as precontemplators (24/168), 29.2% were in the cont emplation stage (49/168), and 56.5% were in the determination or ready to c hange stage (95/168). We found that mean number of NEP visits was 25.5 amon g precontemplators, 28.7 among contemplators, and 22.5 among those in the d etermination stage. In multivariate analysis, an inverse relationship betwe en having ever been in alcohol treatment and higher readiness to change dru g use was the only significant association. In this exploratory study, we f ound that more frequent NEP participation did not impact readiness to chang e drug use among intravenous drug users. Given the high proportion of NEP c lients ready to change drug use, improving linkages between NEPs and substa nce abuse treatment appears warranted. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Lt d. All rights reserved.