Substance cravings, readiness to change, and perceived social support as determinants of treatment motivation for amphetamine-type stimulant use disorder among youths in malaysian rehabilitation centers

Background Treatment motivation is a critical factor for ensuring continued engagement in substance use disorder (SUD) interventions. Because both internal and external factors influence motivation, this study investigated the impact of substance cravings, readiness to change, and perceived social support on treatment motivation among youths with amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use disorder. Methodology This cross-sectional study recruited youths (aged ≤ 25 years) from Malaysian public SUD treatment centers. Assessments included the ATS Cravings Questionnaire (ATS-CQ), Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Treatment Motivation Scale (TMS). Results Participants ( N = 172; M age = 22.12; 97.7% Malay) reported an average substance use duration of 82.1 months ( SD = 32.5), most frequently using amphetamine pills ( pil kuda ). Bivariate analyses indicated all variables—except use duration and prior rehabilitation—correlated significantly with TMS domains. Multivariate analyses yielded significant models for the domains of Problem Recognition (adj. R² =.410, p <.001), Desire for Help (adj. R² =.362, p <.001), and Treatment Readiness (adj. R² =.241, p <.001). Across these models, key significant predictors involved varying combinations of problem recognition, plans to use ATS, age of substance initiation, and polysubstance use. Conclusion Interventions focusing on managing cravings, facilitating problem recognition, and addressing polysubstance use are essential to improve overall treatment motivation. Furthermore, because age of substance initiation emerged as a key predictor, early prevention programs targeting younger demographics are crucial. Comprehensively addressing these determinants will significantly enhance both preventative efforts and long-term rehabilitation outcomes.