Something of value: The introduction of contingency management interventions into the New York City Health and Hospital Addiction Treatment Service

Kellogg, Scott H.; Burns, Marylee; Coleman, Peter; Stitzer, Maxine; Wale, Joyce B.; Jeanne Kreek, M.D., Mary

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2004.10.007

« Previous Next »Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume 28, Issue 1 , Pages 57-65, January 2005

Something of value: The introduction of contingency management interventions into the New York City Health and Hospital Addiction Treatment Service

Scott H. Kellogg, Ph.D.
- The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Corresponding author. Box 171, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021-6399, USA. Tel.: +1 212 327 8282; fax; +1 212 327 7023
Marylee Burns, M.Ed., M.A., CRC
- Office of Behavioral Health, The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY, USA
Peter Coleman, M.S., CASAC
- Office of Behavioral Health, The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY, USA
Maxine Stitzer, Ph.D.
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Joyce B. Wale, CSW
- Office of Behavioral Health, The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY, USA
Mary Jeanne Kreek, M.D.
- The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA

Received 15 May 2004; received in revised form 20 September 2004; accepted 28 October 2004.

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of the adoption of the contingency management approach by the Chemical Dependency Treatment Services of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC). The utilization of this approach grew out of an alliance between NIDA Clinical Trials Network-affiliated clinicians and researchers and a leadership team at the HHC. Interviews and dialogues with administrators, staff, and patients revealed a shared sense that the use of contingency management had: (1) increased patient motivation for treatment and recovery; (2) facilitated therapeutic progress and goal attainment; (3) improved the attitude and morale of many staff members and administrators; and (4) developed a more collegial and affirming relationship not only between patients and staff, but also among staff members.

Keywords: Contingency management, Positive reinforcement, Addiction treatment, Methadone, Vocational rehabilitation