Perceiving Need for Drug Treatment: A Look at Eight Hypotheses

Abstract

Data from the Drug Use Forecasting Program, sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, were used to examine eight hypotheses predicting the perceived need for drug treatment among drug-using arrestees. The findings support five of the eight hypotheses, including those related to drug severity, drug type, prior treatment experience, ethnicity, and the fear of AIDS. There was no support for the gender-related help-seeking or the social isolation hypotheses, and the findings contradict the maturing out hypothesis. The policy implications of our findings are discussed.

Key Words:

• Need for drug treatment
• Denial of drug problem
• Utilization of drug treatment
• Professional help-seeking behavior