Contingency management promotes smoking reductions in residential substance abuse patients.

Sheila M. Alessi, Nancy M. Petry, & Julie Urso. (2008) Contingency management promotes smoking reductions in residential substance abuse patients. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 41, 617-622.

Rates and consequences of cigarette smoking are more severe in substance abusers. In this 12-week pilot study, residential substance abuse treatment patients received standard care for smoking cessation (n = 12) or prize contingency management (n = 12) for expired carbon monoxide (CO) tests ≤ 8 ppm and salivary cotinine < 10 ng/ml, which are indicative of smoking abstinence. Percentage of negative CO tests and the highest number of consecutive negative CO tests were greater in contingency management compared to standard care.

DESCRIPTORS: cigarette smoking, contingency management, reduced smoking, substance abuse treatment