Adding voucher-based incentives to coping skills and motivational enhancement improves outcomes during treatment for marijuana dependence.
Sixty individuals seeking outpatient treatment for marijuana dependence were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: motivational enhancement (M), M plus behavioral coping skills therapy (MBT), or MBT plus voucher-based incentives (MBTV). In the voucher-based incentive program, participants earned vouchers exchangeable for retail items contingent on them submitting cannabinoid-negative urine specimens. MBTV engendered significantly greater durations of documented marijuana abstinence during treatment compared with MBT and M, and a greater percentage of participants in the MBTV group compared with the MBT or M groups were abstinent at the end of treatment. No significant differences in marijuana abstinence were observed between the MBT and M groups. The positive effects of the voucher program in this study support the utility of incentive-based interventions for the treatment of substance dependence disorders including marijuana dependence.
Budney
A J
AJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington 05403, USA. abudney@zoo.uvm.edu
Higgins
S T
ST
Radonovich
K J
KJ
Novy
P L
PL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009042:Motivation; D014040:Token Economy