This study attempted to impact length of time in treatment, treatment participation, outcome expectancies, self-efficacy, stage of change, and alcohol use at follow-up, using a brief motivational interviewing intervention (Miller & Rollnick, 1991). The subjects were 42 alcohol dependent adult men in an inpatient substance abuse treatment program in a Veterans Administration Medical Center in southwestern Virginia. One-half of the subjects (n = 20) were randomly assigned to receive a brief motivational interviewing intervention at the beginning of the usual 28 day treatment program. Contrary to predictions, subjects who received motivational interviewing did not remain in treatment significantly longer, were not rated as significantly more involved in treatment, and did not score significantly higher in self-efficacy than subjects who did not receive the motivational interviewing intervention. Subjects who received motivational interviewing also did not use less alcohol at follow-up, 1 month after the end of treatment. In a set of regression analyses, outcome expectancies, self-efficacy, and stage of change were used to predict days in treatment and therapist ratings of treatment participation. Implications of these findings for further research incorporating motivational interviewing are discussed.