Improvement in naltrexone treatment compliance with contingency management

The efficacy of a voucher-based incentive program for improving adherence t o outpatient, thrice weekly naltrexone maintenance was tested in a three gr oup, randomized, la-week clinical trial. Voucher incentives were given as f ollows: contingent group (n = 19) for each consecutive naltrexone dose inge sted; non-contingent group (n = 19) on unpredictable schedule independently of taking naltrexone; no-voucher group (pr = 20) none. Vouchers were excha ngeable for goods and services. The contingent group had significantly long er treatment retention and ingested significantly more doses of naltrexone (consecutive and total) than either control group. Voucher incentives can s ignificantly increase adherence to naltrexone maintenance in recently detox ified opioid dependent individuals. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.