Potential Sources of Reinforcement and Punishment in a Drug-Free Treatment Clinic: Client and Staff Perceptions

Abstract

Contingency management interventions are quite successful at initiating abstinence from drugs of abuse. However, these approaches to drug abuse treatment are often criticized because of their perceived cost. One way to reduce the cost of contingency management interventions would be to use nonmonetary sources of reinforcement or punishment. A number of reports have discussed the availability of potential sources of reinforcement in opiate replacement clinics. This report describes the availability of potential sources of reinforcement and punishment available in drug-free treatment programs. Both clients and clinic staff rated a number of items in terms of their potential reinforcing and punishing efficacy. Results suggest that there are several sources of reinforcement and punishment available in drug-free clinics, which could be used in contingency management programs. The results also suggest that the clinic staff perceives potential sources of punishment as more aversive than do the clients.

• Reinforcement
• Contingency management
• Punishment