Differences in attitudes towards drug taking among drug addicts: implications for treatment

Addicts attending a London drug dependence clinic (N = 147) completed questionnaires exploring their attitudes towards their own drug taking. Three factors were extracted from the data and these were called 'Hooked', 'Sick' and 'Therapeutic Optimism'. In-patients, regular out-patients and new out-patients, differed in attitudes towards drug taking. New out-patients regarded themselves as more Hooked and Sick than did in-patients. Regular out-patients had lower therapeutic optimism than did the other two groups. Whether these differences arise through self-selection, that is, those who regard themselves as more sick and hooked tend to drop out early, or whether increasing contact with the clinic leads to shifts in these attitudes is discussed.