Treatment Fears: Barriers to Young Psychotropic Substance Abusers Receiving Residential Drug Rehabilitation Treatment

This study examined the treatment fears about the residential drug treatment among 303 young male substance abusers from non-government treatment agencies in Hong Kong. Treatment fears including early treatment fears and anticipated discharge fears were assessed by an indigenous 35-item Early Treatment Fears Scale (ETF) and a 39-item Anticipated Discharge Fears Scale (ADF). Reliability analyses showed that both scales were internally consistent. Regarding dimensionality of the two scales, seven factors (maladaptation, social problems, criminal justice concerns, loss of autonomy, intimacy concern, family issues, and other fears) were abstracted from the ETF, whereas a five-factor structure (treatment failure, uncertainty, people problems, future problems, and family issues) was found for the ADF. As predicted, all subscales of ETF and ADF were significantly correlated with each other. The present findings provide practical implications for social workers and allied professionals when they work with young substance abusers receiving treatment in residential drug treatment agencies.