NON-AVERSIVE REDUCTION OF CIGARETTE-SMOKING IN 2 ADULT MEN IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING

Two middle-aged men with mental retardation, addicted to smoking cigar ettes, operated spinners that determined the probability with which th ey could obtain cigarettes and other items. Absence of several maladap tive behaviors permitted the operation of the spinners hourly (i.e., D RO 60 min), 16 h per day, 7 days per week. The actual frequencies of o btaining cigarettes followed the theoretical probabilities of obtainin g cigarettes in all phases of the study. Presumed smoking frequencies were reduced by about 50% with associated medical benefits. Low freque ncies of maladaptive behaviors were maintained throughout. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.