Schedule of voucher delivery influences initiation of cocaine abstinence.
- 1 January 1998
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
- Vol. 66 (5) , 761-767
- https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.66.5.761
Abstract
This study examined whether voucher delivery arrangements affect treatment outcome. First, 90 cocaine-dependent adults were randomly assigned to behavioral counseling or counseling plus vouchers for cocaine-free urine samples. The value of each voucher was low at the beginning but increased as the patient progressed (Voucher Schedule 1). Voucher Schedule 1 produced no improvements relative to counseling only. Next, 23 patients received vouchers on either Voucher Schedule 1 or Voucher Schedule 2. Voucher Schedule 2 began with high voucher values, but requirements for earning vouchers increased as the patient progressed. Average durations of cocaine abstinence were 6.9 weeks on Voucher Schedule 2 versus 2.0 weeks on Voucher Schedule 1 (p = .02). This confirms that vouchers can assist in initiating abstinence and that voucher delivery arrangements are critical.Keywords
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