Examining the relative importance of social context referents in predicting intention to change substance abuse behavior using the EASE

There is growing consensus across literatures that more than individual motivation and “will to change” influence whether a client will be able to make and sustain recovery-related changes to prevent drug relapse post-treatment. New areas of inquiry in the substance abuse field have proposed conceptual models that promote an integration of both individual and social context factors, which offer the opportunity for important developments in clinical practice. This study examined the influence of social context referents on clients' intention to change substance abusing behaviors. The Ecological Assessment of Substance abuse Experiences (EASE), an instrument that measures the influence of social context referents on addiction and recovery behaviors, was administered to 302 inpatient and outpatient adults in treatment for substance abuse. Results showed that the number of people in his/her social network favorable towards recovery (Beta = .222); the extent to which one personally identifies with being in recovery (Beta = .339); the perceived importance of people in the client's social network encouraging recovery-related behaviors (Beta = .369); weak beliefs that drugs will lead to positive outcomes (Beta = − .220); and strong beliefs that recovery will lead to positive outcomes (Beta = .307) were all associated with intention to change substance abusing behavior.