Intentions to Change Substance Use

Posted On: 11-01-2026

Posted In: Alcohol & High-Risk Drinking, Cannabis, Research, Tobacco & Nicotine Prevention,

Research Brief Version 15 | Number 5

This brief focuses on intentions to change substance use among Missouri undergraduate college students. The transtheoretical model, often referred to as the stages of change model, focuses on the decision-making of an individual and their intention to change a certain behavior. The model consists of 6 stages which indicate a person’s willingness and ability to change a behavior, which are described in Table 1 and visualized in Figure 1. The stages of the model can be entered and exited at any point and may not follow the natural progression from pre-contemplation to maintenance. The MACHB survey asks students to indicate if they are:

1) thinking about acting in a healthier/safer way,

2) ready to try acting in a healthier/safer way, or

3) currently trying to act in a healthier/safer way related to alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco/nicotine used.

Figure 1:

Table 1:

To dive deeper into Missouri undergraduate college students intentions to change their substance use (alcohol use, cannabis use, and tobacco use) and check out the research brief, please visit: Research Brief Version 15 | Number 5.