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Substance use disorders continue to devastate lives globally, driving researchers and addiction treatment centers to explore innovative ways to aid recovery. Contingency management is one effective method that’s recently gained traction. However, its role in stimulant addiction treatment remains somewhat controversial.
What Is Contingency Management?
Contingency management is a behavioral treatment rooted in the principles of operant conditioning. The philosophy is simple – reward people for desired behaviors, such as abstaining from drug use. For example, someone could receive a gift card or prize for a random drug screen that tests negative for illicit substances.
The science backing this approach is compelling. Prolonged drug takes over the brain’s reward system. By tying monetary rewards to abstinence or other treatment objectives, CM provides competing reinforcers, essentially “retraining” the brain.
The Effectiveness of Contingency Management
Research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse has vouched for CM’s effectiveness, with incentives averaging $400 to $500 per client over treatment durations yielding the most consistent results. In contrast, lower incentives have proven to be less effective, affirming that the reward size plays a pivotal role in CM’s success.
While the FDA has approved medications like naltrexone and buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder, there are no such options for stimulant abuse. Here, CM stands out, offering a promising alternative. Moreover, studies conducted by NIDA on contingency management have reported no severe adverse events, further emphasizing its safety.
Addressing the Controversies
Despite the evidence in its favor, CM remains contentious. Critics argue that people could become as reliant on the incentives as they were on their substance of use, and that it’s morally questionable to incentivize sobriety, which should be inherently rewarding.
However, given the colossal toll substance abuse has on people and society, dismissing a potentially groundbreaking treatment based on moral or hypothetical grounds seems counterproductive. Leading organizations, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services, have recognized CM’s efficacy and importance.
Incorporating CM into treatment protocols can be transformative. The VA already offers CM across its national health care system, advocating for its therapeutic value. Moreover, federal agencies, including NIDA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, endorse CM as an effective treatment. Recent strides in technology have even led the FDA to authorize smartphone-based digital therapies, such as reSET and reSET-O, that integrate CM principles.
We’re Ready to Take Your Call
At Hope Lodge, our primary concern is our clients’ holistic well-being. While contingency management might seem unconventional to some, the evidence supporting its effectiveness is compelling.
We provide our clients with a full continuum of care, including medical detox and residential treatment. We use medications that ease unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and ensure a comfortable experience. Reach out today and make the call that will change your life.