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Contingency Management in Community Programs Treating Adolescent Substance Abuse: A Feasibility Study
Author(s) -
Killeen Therese K.,
McRaeClark Aimee L.,
Waldrop Angela E.,
Upadhyaya Himanshu,
Brady Kathleen T.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6171
pISSN - 1073-6077
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6171.2011.00313.x
Subject(s) - contingency management , psychosocial , substance abuse , intervention (counseling) , substance abuse treatment , psychiatry , medicine , substance use , clinical psychology , randomized controlled trial , psychology , surgery
PROBLEM: Adolescent substance abuse remains a public health problem, and more effective treatment approaches are needed. PURPOSE: The study aims to determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of implementing a cost‐effective contingency management (CM) intervention in community substance abuse treatment for adolescents with marijuana use disorders. METHODS: Thirty‐one adolescents with primary marijuana use disorder enrolled in a community treatment were randomized into either a prize‐based CM intervention contingent when submitting negative urine drug screens (UDS) or a noncontingent control group. FINDINGS: There were no significant group differences in percent negative UDS, sustained negative UDS, or retention in treatment. CONCLUSIONS: CM was difficult to integrate into community treatment programs and did not seem to be an effective adjunct to standard community substance abuse treatment for adolescents with marijuana use disorders. Modifying the CM procedure for adolescents, changing staff attitudes toward CM, and/or combining CM with other evidence‐based psychosocial treatment may improve outcomes.