ABSTRACT
Contingency management (CM) is an evidence-based addictions treatment that provides tangible reinforcers for engagement in positive behaviours. This chapter provides a brief overview of the principles of effective CM and the types of reinforcers that have been shown to be effective in treating addictions. It describes the current state of the science, summarizing results of key studies evaluating CM. Contingency management for substance use disorders typically involves providing a reinforcer for abstinence from substance use or for attending treatment sessions. A number of different types of reinforcers have been found to be effective with CM. There have been decades of research supporting the efficacy of CM for both abstinence and treatment attendance across a range of substance use disorders. Effective implementation of CM requires careful attention to treatment fidelity and adherence to its core behavioral principles. Future efforts will be needed to overcome barriers to dissemination of CM, including educational efforts aimed at clinicians and policy makers.
