Abstinence incentive effects in psychosocial counseling patients testing stimulant positive vs. negative at treatment entry.

To improve treatment outcomes, it is necessary to use interventions that can motivate clients to attend treatment and initiate and sustain abstinence. Research has shown that abstinence incentives have a strong evidence-base across a range of abused substances (stimulants, opiates, alcohol, marijuana). Protocol CTN-0006, “Motivational Incentives for Enhanced Drug Abuse Recovery: Drug Free Clinics,” used the “fish bowl” method to provide motivation for clients to remain drug-free. Coupons for various prizes were put into the bowl, and clients who had stimulant-negative urines could draw to win (max earnings: $400).

This presentation discusses the methods and outcomes of this study, which demonstrated that prize-based incentives are an effective way to retain clients and reduce drug use in stimulant abusers enrolled in community drug abuse treatment.

Related protocols: CTN-0006