You may struggle to meet personal or rehabilitation goals during treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). Many factors affect your motivation and ability to engage in the treatment process. Individual and group therapy are some of the most effective tools for promoting program adherence. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), “Contingency management (CM) is an evidence-based psychosocial therapy for the treatment of stimulant use disorder, as well as a variety of other substance use disorders (SUDs), that is supported by three decades of research.” Bright Mission Recovery uses CM to motivate and inspire individuals in rehabilitation.
What Is Contingency Management?
CM is an evidence-based therapeutic modality that promotes positive emotional and behavioral lifestyle changes. According to The Psychiatrist, “Contingency management is a highly effective treatment for substance use and related disorders,” and “can be applied in the context of psychiatric treatments more generally, including increasing abstinence in individuals with dual diagnoses, encouraging attendance in mental health treatment settings, enhancing adherence to psychiatric medications, reducing weight, and improving exercise.” Individuals who have difficulty meeting treatment requirements may benefit from CM.
You can benefit from participating in CM and other forms of therapy. CM is a highly effective and practical tool for achieving treatment goals and developing new routines to support sobriety. Clinicians use CM to help clients meet treatment plan goals through consistent positive reinforcement. Developing effective ways to manage your condition through positive reinforcement may reduce your risk for relapse by motivating you to follow through with necessary lifestyle changes. During CM, you collaborate with a counselor or therapist to determine what incentives or rewards will help you regain control of your behaviors and emotional health.
Principles of Contingency Management
CM works by taking advantage of the brain’s natural response to rewards. The reward centers of the brain are significantly affected by chronic substance abuse, making it more difficult for people to make healthy choices during treatment. You will need to find something that motivates you to make difficult choices to support your ongoing sobriety. For example, you may achieve better treatment outcomes if you receive monetary rewards that incentivize you to remain abstinent and pass drug screening tests.
The primary principles and goals of contingency management include:
- Positive reinforcement through tangible rewards
- Setting clear and manageable goals
- Immediate reinforcement to promote positive behaviors
- Consistency to promote reliability
- Gradual increase or decrease of rewards and incentives
- Objectively tracking progress
- Nonjudgmental acceptance and acknowledgment of positive behaviors
Individuals with a history of chronic substance abuse may experience changes in how their brain interprets rewards. According to Physiological Reviews, for individuals with SUD, “the reward circuit’s capacity to respond to reward and motivate actions that are not drug related is decreased, the sensitivity of the emotional circuits to stress is enhanced, and the capacity to self-regulate is impaired.” Receiving the physical and emotional benefits of making positive lifestyle changes may not be enough of a reward to promote positive behaviors. Using CM to increase rewards and incentives may give you the boost you need to make healthier choices. CM is an ideal therapy if you respond well to rewards and incentives.
The Importance of Reinforcing Positive Behaviors
Everyone has different needs during treatment. Finding healthy ways to meet these needs can make it easier to establish and maintain positive behaviors. If you feel more optimistic about the experience, you may encounter fewer challenges in treatment. Rewards are an excellent way to meet your needs and improve your mood.
Some common incentives and rewards used in CM include:
- Gift cards to restaurants or stores
- Small, incremental cash payments
- Vouchers for services or items
- Tokens exchangeable for privileges
- Clothes and other essential household items
- Transportation passes
- Snacks or drinks
- Social recognition, including public acknowledgment
Discovering what rewards and incentives best motivate you reduces stress by eliminating uncertainty. Having a specific goal to work toward encourages a more structured approach to creating new routines. Most people collaborate with their care team and use different rewards or incentives for particular situations. For example, you may get a small monetary reward for passing a monthly drug screen and receive movie tickets for avoiding unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Contingency Management at Bright Mission Recovery
Bright Mission Recovery uses CM and other therapeutic modalities to treat clients. Your care team may combine aspects of multiple therapies to help you achieve your goals. Every level of care offers CM and other therapies to ensure a consistent treatment experience. The principles of CM focus on reinforcing healthy behaviors to ensure you have a solid foundation of positive routines and habits to support your sobriety. Bright Mission Recovery encourages families to actively participate in treatment and may collaborate with you and your loved ones to create more effective rewards and incentives.
Some people may find it challenging to change their behaviors. Individuals with a history of chronic substance abuse may have habits and ingrained behaviors they need to unlearn and replace with healthier alternatives. Contingency management is one form of therapy that can help people develop behaviors that support lasting sobriety. Therapy sessions are tailored to each client and their specific goals. The addiction and mental health experts at Bright Mission Recovery use CM and other services to ensure clients have the skills to successfully achieve and maintain long-term sobriety. To learn more about our programs and the various forms of therapy we offer, call our office today at (747) 444-3284.