Contingency Management Offers Help With Substance Use Disorders

SPS: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic conditions that can lead to severe medical complications and psychosocial problems, creating major public health challenges.

Several evidence-based practices exist to support individuals with SUDs, with contingency management (CM) being one of the most prominent, according to the latest article in the SPS Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Section Connection newsletter.

CM is a behavior therapy approach grounded in operant conditioning principles, which aims to modify behavior through positive reinforcement techniques. CM is a well-researched and evidence-based practice approach that has demonstrated its efficacy in treating SUDs through multiple high-quality research studies, say the article authors, Tugba Olgac, PhD, LSW, and David L. Hussey, PhD, LISW-S.

The two primary types of CM, with different reward systems, are voucher-based reinforcement and prize-based reinforcement. The authors note that CM is a highly adaptable treatment approach that is often integrated with traditional practices and other evidence-based interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.

“Moreover, beyond targeting abstinence from substances, CM can be tailored to reinforce a wide range of desired behaviors,” they write. This flexibility shows the broad applicability and utility of CM across various treatment contexts and client needs.

Despite its efficacy, CM remains an underused treatment approach for SUDs across the United States, they note. “The majority of Individuals with SUDs do not have access to this highly effective treatment, and social workers are crucial in addressing this gap given their prominence in the design and delivery of treatment.”