title: Readiness to change as a predictor of drug-related behaviors in a sample of rural felony probationers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Relationships between readiness to change and common drug-related behaviors were explored in a sample (N = 776) of rural probationers in the state of Kentucky.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported data was gathered on measures of readiness to change, frequency of marijuana use, possession of drugs/related paraphernalia, and driving while under the influence of drugs/alcohol at time periods before and after arrest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent of the influence of demographic characteristics such as age, gender, race, and treatment history, increases in readiness to change scores were accompanied by reductions in all three drug-related behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Readiness to change has important implications for treatment involving rural probationers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science and Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, USA. jlduva2@uky.edu
authors.forename: Jamieson L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Duvall
authors.forename: Carrie B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Oser
authors.forename: Carl G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Leukefeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology; D003415:Crime; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation