Perceived Need for Treatment Among Drug Using Arrestees in Four Cities

ABSTRACT

Knowledge about, interest in, or perceived need for, drug abuse treatment among high risk populations is sparse. This research explores perceived need for drug abuse treatment among drug using arrestees in four U.S. cities. Data are drawn from the national Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) survey funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. A high percentage of arrestees who are drug users, ranging from 30% to 55% across the 24 U.S. cities which participate in the DUF survey, perceive a need for drug treatment. The most important predictors of perceived need for treatment is previous experience with drug treatment followed by having previously injected a drug and by not having a legitimate means of support. These three variables account for about 20% of the variance in perceived need for drug treatment across the four cities. Other socio-demographic variables are less clear predictors.