The SIDE workshop: examining the influence of a substance abuse intervention on the readiness for change of men who are incarcerated

Substance abuse is rapidly and steadily becoming the highest behavioral health concern in the United States (SAMHSA, 2012). The impact of substance abuse is especially evident in the criminal justice system. Although an estimated 45%-53% of people who are incarcerated meet criteria for a substance abuse disorder, only one-fifth of these individuals receive treatment (NIDA, 2006; Welsh & Zajac 2004). Possible reasons for the dearth of services includes correctional settings’ limited ability to fund behavioral health programs as well as lack of appropriate training in implementing evidence based treatment. The current study examined the utility of a low-cost, single-session intervention (SIDE) in promoting readiness for change by using therapeutic confrontation. The sample consisted of 33 incarcerated men who were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions: a standard psychoeducation and process group (i.e., SIDE-S) and a similar condition that included confrontation exercises (i.e., SIDE-C). In contrast to previous findings that suggest that confrontation is ineffective and harmful (e.g., Miller & Rose, 2009), results from this study further support the assertion that therapeutic confrontation can be effectively used to promote readiness for change (Clark, 2012; Polcin, 2003). Implications for the clinical use of therapeutic confrontation as well as future directions for research are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Flores, Michelle P

Contributors dc:contributor

• Neville, Helen
• Smith, Douglas
• Ginsburg, Rebecca
• Greene, Jennifer Helen
• Russell, Mary

• Substance abuse
• Therapeutic confrontation
• Incarceration
• Workshop

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Michelle Flores

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/93042

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/93042