Individuals who misuse drugs obtain vouchers with varying values after certain periods of abstinence. These vouchers usually increase in value after successful periods of abstinence. The patient must test negative for the drug, and the patients are unable to obtain a voucher if the biological sample indicates that drug use occurred. The vouchers can be used for any approved good or service. 

Michigan State University

Contingency Management approaches involve administering a non-drug reinforcer after demonstration of abstinence from drug or alcohol use. CM approaches are grounded in operant learning theory. These procedures may use either stable or escalating reinforcement schedules. The reinforcer value adjusts according to duration of abstinence. The punchbowl method is an example of reinforcers, in which negative screens for drug use are rewarded with the opportunity to draw from a “punchbowl.” 


Contingency Management Strategies 


National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). Drug Misuse: Psychosocial Interventions. Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society (UK); 2008. (NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 51.) 8, PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS.

PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS

Voucher based reinforcement

People who use drugs receive pieces of paper that can be kept in a container after they are confirmed a period of abstinence from drugs. These draws are then selected from the container, and each draw has a chance of winning a “prize”. If it was found the person did use drugs, they do not receive their slip. Also known as “variable magnitude of reinforcement procedure”. 

Prize-based reinforcement

Participants who are able to complete a period of abstinence from a certain drug are able to receive certain clinic privileges. Patients provide biological samples which are tested for drugs. One example of this is take-home dosage of methadone or changes in doses. 

Clinic privileges

There have only been a few studies conducted on how monetary incentives would work in concordance with physical health interventions. In this method, patients would be awarded monetary incentives after completing a period of abstinence. It has been found that the amount of money awarded is insignificant. 

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