A simple reinforcement system for methadone clients in a community-based treatment program. 1994

G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
Institute of Behavioral Research, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth 76129.

Clients in a community-based methadone treatment program earned stars for attending counseling sessions as scheduled and for providing clean urines. These stars were later redeemed for contingent rewards (food or gas coupons or bus tokens) according to one of three randomly assigned reward schedules, including high reward (four stars per prize), low reward (eight stars per prize), or delayed reward (those who had to wait 3 months to earn a prize). Clients in the high-reward condition showed a pattern of increasing the number of stars earned for group sessions and clean urines across the 3-month intervention. All clients, independent of reward condition, attended significantly more group counseling sessions during the months that contingent reinforcers were available than in the months prior to, and after, the intervention. Finally, urinalysis data indicated that, in the postintervention period, high-reward clients had fewer dirty urines than did low-reward or delayed-reward clients. This study suggests that a simple system of recognizing client progress with stars and modest prizes for performing specific behaviors can be an effective tool in increasing clinic attendance rates and reducing positive urines.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008691 Methadone A synthetic opioid that is used as the hydrochloride. It is an opioid analgesic that is primarily a mu-opioid agonist. It has actions and uses similar to those of MORPHINE. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p1082-3) Amidone,Biodone,Dolophine,Metadol,Metasedin,Methaddict,Methadone Hydrochloride,Methadose,Methex,Phenadone,Phymet,Physeptone,Pinadone,Symoron,Hydrochloride, Methadone
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010349 Patient Compliance Voluntary cooperation of the patient in following a prescribed regimen. Client Adherence,Client Compliance,Non-Adherent Patient,Patient Adherence,Patient Cooperation,Patient Noncompliance,Patient Non-Adherence,Patient Non-Compliance,Patient Nonadherence,Therapeutic Compliance,Treatment Compliance,Adherence, Client,Adherence, Patient,Client Compliances,Compliance, Client,Compliance, Patient,Compliance, Therapeutic,Compliance, Treatment,Cooperation, Patient,Non Adherent Patient,Non-Adherence, Patient,Non-Adherent Patients,Non-Compliance, Patient,Nonadherence, Patient,Noncompliance, Patient,Patient Non Adherence,Patient Non Compliance,Patient, Non-Adherent,Therapeutic Compliances,Treatment Compliances
D012055 Reinforcement Schedule A schedule prescribing when the subject is to be reinforced or rewarded in terms of temporal interval in psychological experiments. The schedule may be continuous or intermittent. Reinforcement Schedules,Schedule, Reinforcement,Schedules, Reinforcement
D003376 Counseling The giving of advice and assistance to individuals with educational or personal problems.
D005260 Female Females
D006556 Heroin Dependence Strong dependence or addiction, both physiological and emotional, upon HEROIN. Heroin Abuse,Heroin Addiction,Heroin Smoking,Abuse, Heroin,Addiction, Heroin,Dependence, Heroin,Heroin Smokings,Smoking, Heroin
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

Related Publications

G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
October 2012, Journal of clinical psychopharmacology,
G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
January 1975, The International journal of the addictions,
G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
January 2013, Nursing research and practice,
G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
January 1995, Addictive behaviors,
G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
January 1975, Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974),
G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
January 1973, Proceedings. National Conference on Methadone Treatment,
G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
May 1982, The International journal of the addictions,
G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
January 1980, Addictive behaviors,
G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
December 2008, Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing,
G Rowan-Szal, and G W Joe, and L R Chatham, and D D Simpson
November 2010, Evaluation and program planning,
Copied contents to your clipboard!