Journal article
Reinforcing Abstinence and Treatment Participation Among Offenders in a Drug Diversion Program
Criminal justice and behavior, Vol.36(9), pp.935-953
09/01/2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/114533
Abstract
This study assessed a 26-week voucher-based intervention to reinforce abstinence and participation in treatment-related activities among substance-abusing offenders court referred to outpatient treatment under drug diversion legislation (California's Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act). Standard treatment consisted of criminal justice supervision and an evidence-based model for treating stimulant abuse. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups, standard treatment (ST) only, ST plus vouchers for testing negative, ST plus vouchers for performing treatment plan activities, and ST plus vouchers for testing negative and/or performing treatment plan activities. Results indicate that voucher-based reinforcement of negative urines and of treatment plan tasks (using a flat reinforcement schedule) showed no statistically significant effects on measures of retention or drug use relative to the standard treatment protocol. It is likely that punishment and reinforcement operating within the criminal justice context had a stronger impact on participants' treatment retention and drug use than the relatively low-value vouchers awarded as part of the treatment protocol. [Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Inc., copyright American Association for Correctional Psychology.]
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Details
- Title
- Reinforcing Abstinence and Treatment Participation Among Offenders in a Drug Diversion Program
- Creators
- Elizabeth A HallMichael L PrendergastJohn M RollUmme Warda
- Publication Details
- Criminal justice and behavior, Vol.36(9), pp.935-953
- Academic Unit
- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
- Identifiers
- 99900548100901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article