title: Contingent reinforcement for benzodiazepine-free urines: evaluation of a drug abuse treatment intervention.
abstract: This study evaluated contingent reinforcement for benzodiazepine-free urines as a therapeutic intervention for promoting reduced use of supplemental benzodiazepine drugs among methadone maintenance outpatients. Ten methadone maintenance patients were selected for participation on the basis of positive urinalysis results. During a 12-week intervention period these patients were offered clinic privileges, including monetary payments or methadone take-home doses, contingent on benzodiazepine negative urinalysis test results. Eight of ten participants responded to the intervention with at least 2.5 weeks of consecutive clean urines. An increase in benzodiazepine-negative tests during the contingent reinforcement period was significant for the group as a whole. The results suggest that more widespread application of contingent reinforcement procedures may be warranted in drug abuse treatment clinics.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000652:urine; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000652:urine; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D008691:Methadone