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

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

a The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA

b Office of Behavioral Health, The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY, USA

c Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 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

PII: S0740-5472(04)00128-X

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2004.10.007

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