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Drug use in methadone maintenance clients: A multidimensional model of personality, coping, and motivation
Abstract
Substance abuse is a multidimensional problem that incorporates dispositional, behavioral, and physiological determinants. Yet, more systematic approaches to developing multidimensional models of drug use and typologies of drug abusers, using combinations of these determinants, are needed that can predict frequency of substance use and relapse rates. The model tested here is a combination of dispositional and behavioral variants. It was proposed that: (1) Drug users maintained on methadone can be classified into different addict profiles or typologies based on personality, coping skills, and motivation; (2) Different addict profiles are significantly related to different levels of drug use; and (3) The multidimensional model is superior to any one determinant; that is, personality, coping skills, and motivation make independent, significant contributions to the prediction of drug use. Ninety-four male and female IV drug users, who were enrolled in a methadone maintenance program and had at least three months of treatment completed, participated in the study. Subjects were assigned to sessions during which they completed a series of questionnaires. Results indicated that five different addict profiles could be identified, two of which were very distinct. One profile was characterized by a healthy personality structure, adaptive coping skills, and high motivation, the other profile displayed an opposite pattern. Addict profiles were significantly related to various self-reported drug use measures, including frequency of drug use, number of drug use temptations and slips, effort to resist temptation, and frequency of giving in to temptation. No significant gender differences were found across addict profiles. Furthermore, the multidimensional model was superior to any one determinant; personality, coping, and motivation each significantly predicted drug use. Additional results are presented on the influence of methadone beliefs on motivation and drug use, and the relationship among stress-coping skills, temptation-coping strategies, and drug use. These findings are discussed with regards to implications for theory development and treatment strategies for substance abuse.
Subject Area
Personality psychology|Clinical psychology
Recommended Citation
Gollnisch, Gernot, "Drug use in methadone maintenance clients: A multidimensional model of personality, coping, and motivation" (1991). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9207406.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9207406