Motivational interviewing to enhance treatment initiation in substance abusers: An effectiveness study

Sixty individuals referred for a substance abuse evaluation by a child welfare worker were randomly assigned to either a standard evaluation (N=29; 18 females; mean age 34 yrs) or an evaluation enhanced (N=31; 25 females; mean age 34.7 yrs) by Motivational Interviewing techniques, each delivered in a single session. Participants who received the enhanced evaluation were significantly more likely to attend at least one additional treatment session after the initial evaluation (59% versus 29%). This finding suggests that comparatively inexpensive modifications of "standard" initial evaluations with substance-using parents may increase engagement of substance-abusing parents in treatment. Moreover, this study adds to an overwhelmingly positive literature supporting Motivational Interviewing with alcohol-using populations and extends prior findings to non-research community settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)