PREDICTORS OF RETENTION IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT:

Increased treatment retention among substance §abusing individuals has been associated with reduced §drug use, fewer arrests, and decreased unemployment, §as well as a reduction in health risk behaviors. §This longitudinal study examined the predictors of §client retention for alternative-to-prison substance §abuse treatment programs through assessing the roles §of motivational factors and the client-worker §relationship. Results support the following §conclusions: Among clients in alternative-to prison §programs the number of days in treatment is §positively related to their motivation to change. §The therapeutic alliance is not a predictor of the §number of days in treatment. Motivation to change, §particularly recognition of a drug problem, is §positively related to the therapeutic alliance. §Changes in motivation to change in response to §treatment are positively related to the therapeutic §alliance among clients in an alternative-to prison §substance abuse treatment programs. These results §carry forward prior research and have implications §for social work practice, research, and social §welfare policy.