Abstract: Used the associative group analysis method of L. B. Szalay and J. Brent (1967) to compare free associations of 100 habitual drug users who had recently entered treatment with those of 100 residents from the same therapeutic community who were successfully treated. Ss received a booklet with 10 word themes and 30 pictures and were asked to write related ideas for 1 min for each theme and picture. Results from an analysis of 1 theme and 1 picture demonstrate the differences between the 2 groups in terms of perceptions, priorities, and attitudes. In comparison to the pretreatment Ss, the posttreatment Ss demonstrated a more detailed and advanced view of drugs and an increased ability to look for deeper meanings and interpersonal relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved)