Do you have to hit “rock bottom” to recover?

An analysis of motivation to recover through the lens of the Vigo County

Drug Court experience

About this research project• Origins of this research project– Brainchild of Professor Butwin, Indiana State

University Political Science– Funded by the ISU Center for Student Research

and Creativity• Undergraduate Researchers:• Website for more information about this

project and a copy of this paper

HypothesisIf external characteristics exist to identify those who are “ready for recovery” drug courts should utilize those characteristic in selecting drug court participants to make programs more effective and efficient.

Who is most ready to recover from addiction?

• Stages of Change Model of willingness to recover - Prochaska and DiClemente (1992)– Precontemplation, contemplation, action,

maintenance – This study will focus on the first two stages

• Precontemplation phase = less likely to benefit from drug court program (action)

• Contemplation phase = more likely to be successful in a drug court program and beyond (maintenance)

What are the characteristics of those in the “contemplation” phase of change?

• A number of theories exist– X– x

• “Rock Bottom” theories of readiness for change– X– X– X– x

How are participants for drug court participation currently selected?

• National statistics / best practices model

How are participants for drug court participation currently selected?

• Vigo County Drug Court– VCDC Policy and Procedures Manual Section 1.4• Eligibility Criteria according to VCDC manual • Target population according to VCDC manual

• Referral from lawyers is not specifically placed in the manual, however, this is a common practice in order to divert prosecution for crimes committed• Cite Evan’s article

Methodology• January 1, 2008 thru December 31, 2010• Active, Successful & Terminated Participants

• Successful: Completing all requirements & no recidivism post completion of program

• Graduated: Completing all requirements &recidivism post completion of program

• Data Gathered:– Socio-economic– Self-Reported– Drug History– Criminal History

General Characteristics

• Income: – $0-$4,999: 50.2%

• Martial Status:– Single: 55.5%

• Drug of Choice: – Alcohol: 69.5%– Methamephatime: 13.7%– Marijuana: 8.4%– Prescription Drugs: 6.1%– Cocaine: 2.3%

Average Number of Days in VCDC Program: 800.38 days

• Gender: – 188 Males, 70 Females

• Age: 32.90 years• Ethnicity:

– Caucasian: 89.5&– African American: 8.9%– Hispanic: 1.2%– Other: 0.40%

Factors that Contribute to “Hitting Rock Bottom”

• Prior attempt at treatment• Employment status• Criminal history/Number of charges• Age of onset for drug or alcohol abuse

Findings: Prior Attempt at Treatment

24.70%

75.30%

Successful

No Yes

25.20%

74.8%

Graduated

No Yes

Findings: Employment

None Part-Time Full-Time Student Missing0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Graduated Successful

Findings: Criminal HistoryGraduated:

• Mean number of charges: 13.2847 charges

• 52.1% reported having 10 charges or less

Successful:• Mean number of charges:

6.3878 charges• 53.1% reported having 5

charges or less

Findings: Age of OnsetSuccessful:

• Mean age: 17.0417 years old

• Range: 6- 34 years of age• 54.2% reported being under

the age of 17

Graduated:• Mean age: 15.6757 years of

age• Range: 1-22 years of age• 54.1% reported being under

16

All factors combined: More successful or more likely to fail?