NIDA-CTN-0021

Because Spanish-speaking drug users are often not included in studies of drug abuse treatment, little is known about what works with this population. On the other hand, there is research that shows that this minority group carries attitudes and beliefs about substance abuse that may be barriers to participation in substance abuse treatment. A few studies do indicate, however, that efforts to motivate substance-abusing Hispanics can be effective in bringing them into treatment. One such intervention, Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), is a promising intervention that may increase Hispanic clients’ commitment to change and reduce their resistance to entering treatment. This study compares a three-session Spanish version of MET to standard treatment to see how well MET engages and retains Spanish-speaking clients in outpatient substance abuse treatment.