S u m m a r y

 

Saarnio P & Knuuttila V (2007)

Substance abusers' readiness to change in two different treatment populations

Psykologia 42: 113&endash;121. Vammala ISSN 0355-1067.

 

Information on substance abusers' readiness to change is needed for the individual planning of treatment. We investigated readiness to change profiles in two different treatment populations. The unselected group consisted of Finnish participants (N=780) who were alcoholics and polydrug users receiving inpatient treatment. The selected group was North Americana alcoholics (N=946) treated on Project MATCH, one of the most extensive trials throughout history. Readiness to change was measured with the URICA (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale). In the cluster analyses the participants were placed in groups. The findings indicated that the readiness to change profiles are similar in form in these populations, but there were differences in grouping. The profiles of Finnish unselected clients were more often of the type resisting change compared to those of the selected Americans. The article considers the significance of the findings in the light of earlier profile studies and the treatment of substance abuse.

 

Key words:

Substance abuse, readiness to change, treatment of substance abuse.

 

Pekka Saarnio, D. Pol. Sc. & Vesa Knuuttila, M. Soc. Sc., Department of Social Policy and Social Work, FIN-33014, University of Tampere, Finland.