Faculty Advisor
Sarah Callahan and Leonard A. Jason
Abstract
Opioid and heroin abuse is a continuing problem in the United States that has been increasing dramatically since 2000. Common treatment programs tend to use methadone and behavioral therapies that do not focus on motivational factors despite the research suggesting it is an important element to treatment retention and sustained abstinence. Motivation for the purposes of this study is defined as an individual’s inner reasons for change. The current study focused on differences in motivation for change among different substance abusers. We found that opiate and heroin abusers had higher motivational scores in comparison to other substance abusers. These results imply that treatment programs should focus on increasing motivation and explore the circumstances and factors that may hinder it.
Recommended Citation
Peterson, Andrew W.; Callahan, Sarah; and Jason, Leonard A.
(2016)
"Motivation for Change in Heroin and Opiate Users,"
DePaul Discoveries: Volume 5, Article 7.
Available at:
https://via.library.depaul.edu/depaul-disc/vol5/iss1/7