Survival analysis was used to determine the predictors of dropout from a spiritually-based therapeutic community (TC) for individuals with significant substance use problems. Participants' background characteristics, motivational readiness to change, religiosity, and psychological sense of community (PSOC) at treatment entry were tested to determine whether these variables were associated with early dropout. Individuals who had a moderate level of motivational readiness at entry were less likely to dropout of the program than those with a low or high level of motivational readiness. Individuals who reported a greater religiosity and PSOC within the TC were also significantly less likely to dropout than those who reported a low religiosity and PSOC. However, changes in motivational readiness, religiosity, and PSOC during the early stages of the TC program (from treatment entry to 45 days into treatment) were not associated with duration of stay. These findings suggest the importance of baseline characteristics in predicting one's likelihood to stay in a spiritually-based TC. To decrease the rate of early dropout, it may be important to place greater emphasis on promoting one's PSOC early in the program. Moreover, further work needs to address various aspects of religiosity and motivational readiness to change during the first week of program entry.