Exploring the Stages of Change in Substance Abuse Behaviour

This book provides an exploration of the Stages of Change Model of treatment for substance abusers, a treatment approach developed and implemented over the years. Substance abusers were tested from two residential facilities in Barbados. The sample was 51 male participants with a mean age of 37.7 years. Data collected were: socio-demographics, cultural & ethnic identity, history of substance use, current substance use, expectations of treatment, self-efficacy, readiness to change, decisional balance, stages of change, length of time in treatment and phase in treatment. The book offers insight into readiness to change substance abuse behavior among individuals with stronger ethnic identity, such that stronger ethnic identification was associated with greater readiness to change. Older adults were more motivated to change alcohol and drug behaviors. Individuals dealing with alcohol use were interested in help with social problems but not legal problems. Higher expectations oftreatment, higher levels of readiness to change alcohol use and drug use were associated with higher levels along the stage of change process. Respondents focused more on cons, rather than pros.