A New Look at Motivation
Overall Key Messages –
- Motivation is key to substance use behavior
change. - Ambivalence about change is normal.
- Motivation is dynamic and fluctuates.
- Motivation helps people resolve their
ambivalence about making difficult lifestyle
changes. - Motivation is influenced by social interactions.
- Motivation can be enhanced.
- Enhancing motivation can improve addiction
treatment outcomes. - Motivation is multidimensional.
ARE YOU READY, WILLING, AND ABLE?
- “Ability” refers to the extent to which a person
has the necessary skills, resources, and
confidence to make a change. - “Willingness” is linked to the importance a
person places on changing—how much a
change is wanted or desired. However, even
willingness and ability are not always enough. - “Ready” represents a final step in which
a person finally decides to change a
particular behavior.
The benefts of motivational enhancement approaches include:
- Enhancing motivation to change.
- Preparing clients to enter treatment.
- Engaging and retaining clients in treatment.
- Increasing participation and involvement.
- Improving treatment outcomes.
- Encouraging rapid return to treatment if clients
return to substance misuse.
Why Enhance Motivation?
SUD (Substance Abuse Disorder) By the Numbers
140.6M
Americans ages 12 and older currently consumed alcohol.
30.5M
People ages 12 and older had past-month illicit drug use.
11.4M
People misused opioids (defined as prescription pain reliever misuse or heroin use) in the past year.
18.2M
People who needed SUD treatment did not receive specialty treatment.
Source SAMSHA.gov. TIP-35 Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Stages of Change (SOC)
Relapse or recurrence of substance misuse is a common part of the process as people cycle through the different stage.
Precontemplation
People who use substances are not considering change and do not intend to change in the foreseeable future. They may be partly or completely unaware that a problem exists, that they have to make changes, and that they may need help to change.
Contemplation
As these individuals become aware that a problem exists, they begin to perceive that there may be cause for concern and reasons to change. Typically, they are ambivalent, simultaneously seeing reasons to change and reasons not to change.
Preparation
When individuals perceive that the envisioned advantages of change and adverse consequences of substance use outweigh the benefits of maintaining the status quo, the decisional balance tips in favor of change. Once initiation of change occurs, individuals enter the Preparation stage and strengthen their commitment.
Action
Here, individuals choose a strategy for change and begin to pursue it. Clients are actively engaged in changing substance use behaviors. They are making lifestyle changes and may face challenging situations (e.g., temptations to use, physiological effects of withdrawal).
Maintenance
This stage entails efforts to sustain gains made during the Action stage and to prevent recurrence. Extra precautions may be necessary to keep from reverting to health-risk behaviors. Individuals learn to identify situations that may trigger a return to substance use and develop coping skills to manage such situations.
IOP CONNECT is an online Intensive Outpatient Program. It is a revolutionary form of treatment that leverages the power of technology to provide individuals with intensive care and support for addiction or mental health challenges. Through our secure, HIPAA compliant virtual platform, individuals can now access therapy and counseling services from the comfort and privacy of their own homes, eliminating the need for in-person sessions.