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Effects of reducing contingency management values on heroin and cocaine use for buprenorphine‐ and desipramine‐treated patients
Author(s) -
Kosten Thomas,
Poling James,
Oliveto Alison
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00380.x
Subject(s) - buprenorphine , medicine , heroin , abstinence , placebo , contingency management , desipramine , randomized controlled trial , anesthesia , methadone , urine , drug , opioid , psychiatry , intervention (counseling) , antidepressant , receptor , alternative medicine , pathology , hippocampus
Aims During 3 months where contingency management (CM) had an escalating value for each consecutive drug‐free urine (escalating CM), cocaine‐ and heroin‐abusing patients significantly increased drug‐free urines. The ‘escalating CM’ was eliminated during months 4–6 to assess any reduction in drug‐free urines. Design Patients who completed a 3‐month, randomized, double‐blind, trial evaluating CM versus non‐CM and desipramine (DMI) versus placebo, had an ‘escalating CM’ eliminated during months 4–6. The CM and non‐CM groups were compared using thrice‐weekly urine samples. Setting Out‐patient buprenorphine maintenance for 6 months. Participants All 75 of the 160 original study patients who completed month 3 of the clinical trial. Intervention The ‘escalating CM’ was eliminated for all 3 months and during months 5 and 6 the response requirement was also increased to two and then three consecutive drug‐free urines in order to obtain a voucher. Measurements Urine toxicology for opiates and cocaine. Findings After eliminating the ‘escalating CM’, the CM group showed a decline in combined opioid‐ and cocaine‐free urines. This decline within the CM group was greater in those treated with DMI than placebo. Conclusions Buprenorphine with DMI maintained drug abstinence after eliminating the ‘escalating CM’, but not after increasing the response requirement, suggesting the need for more intensive psychosocial interventions during CM.