Contingency Management to reduce substance use in individuals who are homeless with co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
Homeless shelters provide a unique opportunity to intervene with occupants who have substance abuse problems, as not addressing these issues may lead to continuation of problems playing a contributing role in homelessness. Attempts to implement Contingency Management (CM) with this population have often been complex, costly, and not straightforward to replicate in community settings. We conducted a randomized trial evaluating a simple, low-cost 4-week CM program for 30 individuals seeking shelter in a community-based homeless shelter who had both current substance and psychiatric disorders. Behavioral assessments were performed at baseline, weekly, and termination of the study. Overall retention in the trial was high; participants assigned to CM reduced their cocaine and alcohol use more than those in assessment-only. This pilot trial suggests that application of low-cost CM procedures is feasible within this novel setting and may decrease substance use.
Tracy
Kathlene
K
New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Babuscio
Theresa
T
Nich
Charla
C
Kiluk
Brian
B
Carroll
Kathleen M
KM
Petry
Nancy M
NM
Rounsaville
Bruce J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003237:Connecticut; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012201:Reward