Journal Facts

Journal
International Journal of Self-Help and Self-Care
ISSN
1091-2851 (print) 1541-4450 (electronic)
Volume
3
Issue
1-2
Date
7/1/2005

Article Facts

Title
WHY DON'T DRUG USERS GET TREATMENT?
DOI
10.2190/DA11-VG3L-6VFV-UVCN
Authors
  • DAVID C. BELL
  • BENEDETTA BELLI-MCQUEEN
  • SWATI D. SHETH
  • TABITHA SERRANO
Pages
5-20
Online Date
10/02/2006

Article Links

WHY DON'T DRUG USERS GET TREATMENT?

DAVID C. BELL
BENEDETTA BELLI-MCQUEEN
SWATI D. SHETH
TABITHA SERRANO

DOI: 10.2190/DA11-VG3L-6VFV-UVCN

Abstract

Even when drug treatment is available, most drug users do not go to treatment. We examine several theoretical frameworks to identify three critical choice points along the route from drug use to treatment in order to help understand the process: the recognition that drug use is a problem; the desire to stop using drugs; and the desire for help. In a community sample of 131 drug users with complete data, 34% did not recognize that their drug use was a problem and 27% did not think that their problem was severe enough to stop using drugs. A relatively small proportion of the sample (24%) expressed a desire for help, and only 18% entered any kind of treatment during the four years of the study.

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