title: Contingency management voucher redemption as an indicator of delayed gratification.
abstract: This prospective analysis tested whether frequency of voucher redemptions during a contingency management (CM) substance use intervention was significantly associated with participants' ongoing substance use. Homeless, substance-dependent men who have sex with men (N=131) were randomized into either a "full" or "lite" voucher-based CM intervention. All participants earned vouchers for attendance and participation; participants in the CM-full condition also received vouchers for substance abstinence and enactment of prosocial and/or health-promoting behaviors. Multivariate longitudinal negative binomial regression analyses (n=118) assessed the association between substance use during the intervention and frequency of voucher redemptions. Participants who used methamphetamine (IRR=0.66; 95% CI=0.44-0.99) and/or opiates (IRR=0.60; 95% CI=0.40-0.99) during the intervention exhibited less time between voucher redemptions than individuals who achieved abstinence from these substances. Voucher redemption logs can be cost-effective and unobtrusive tools for measuring study participants' tendency to delay gratification.
authors.affiliation: Friends Research Institute, Inc., Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: jfletcher@friendsresearch.org.
authors.forename: Jesse B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: Friends Research Institute, Inc., Los Angeles, California; Fielding School of Public Health, University of California at Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Rhodri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dierst-Davies
authors.affiliation: Friends Research Institute, Inc., Los Angeles, California; UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Cathy J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Reback
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D065786:Delay Discounting; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014040:Token Economy
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008694:Methamphetamine
keywords: Contingency management; Delayed gratification; Men who have sex with men; Methamphetamine; Opiates