TY - JOUR
T1 - Contingent methadone delivery
T2 - Effects on illicit-opiate use
AU - Higgins, Stephen T.
AU - Stitzer, Maxine L.
AU - Bigelow, George E.
AU - Liebson, Ira A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by USPHS research grant DA-01472, Training Grant T32 DA-07209, and Research Scientist Development Award DA-00050 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1986/7
Y1 - 1986/7
N2 - This study examined the effects of contingent vs. non-contingent delivery of a methadone dose supplement on relapse to illicit opiate use in the context of a methadone outpatient detoxification program. Following a 3-week methadone stabilization period on 30 mg, patients (N = 39) were randomly assigned to a contingent, a non-contingent, or a control treatment group. All patients received identical gradual reductions in their assigned methadone dose. During the dose reduction period (weeks 4-11), members of the contingent (N = 13) and non-contingent groups (N = 13) could obtain daily methadone-dose supplements up to 20 mg, but contingent group members could obtain supplements only if their most recent urinalysis results were opiate negative. Control subjects (N = 13) did not have dose increases available. The contingent group presented significantly lower opiate-positive urines during weeks 8-11 (14% positive) of the detox than the non-contingent (38% positive) or control (50% positive) groups. Additionally, the availability of extra methadone improved treatment retention and increased clinic attendance above levels observed in the control group. The potential for further use of methadone's reinforcing properties in the treatment of opiate dependence is discussed.
AB - This study examined the effects of contingent vs. non-contingent delivery of a methadone dose supplement on relapse to illicit opiate use in the context of a methadone outpatient detoxification program. Following a 3-week methadone stabilization period on 30 mg, patients (N = 39) were randomly assigned to a contingent, a non-contingent, or a control treatment group. All patients received identical gradual reductions in their assigned methadone dose. During the dose reduction period (weeks 4-11), members of the contingent (N = 13) and non-contingent groups (N = 13) could obtain daily methadone-dose supplements up to 20 mg, but contingent group members could obtain supplements only if their most recent urinalysis results were opiate negative. Control subjects (N = 13) did not have dose increases available. The contingent group presented significantly lower opiate-positive urines during weeks 8-11 (14% positive) of the detox than the non-contingent (38% positive) or control (50% positive) groups. Additionally, the availability of extra methadone improved treatment retention and increased clinic attendance above levels observed in the control group. The potential for further use of methadone's reinforcing properties in the treatment of opiate dependence is discussed.
KW - Behavioral pharmacology
KW - Contingency management
KW - Methadone detoxification
KW - Opiate dependence
KW - Schedules of reinforcement
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U2 - 10.1016/0376-8716(86)90080-3
DO - 10.1016/0376-8716(86)90080-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 3757767
AN - SCOPUS:0022502944
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 17
SP - 311
EP - 322
JO - Drug and alcohol dependence
JF - Drug and alcohol dependence
IS - 4
ER -