Contingency Management

An Exciting New Tool To Assist Recovery

Contingency Management uses motivational incentives and tangible rewards to help people abstain from drugs or alcohol. Research has shown that CM can not only encourage abstinence and healthy behaviors, but can also boost self-confidence and self-efficacy—important qualities that help people in recovery stay on track. It’s proven especially helpful for people who don’t want or can’t take medications, haven’t been successful with other services, or don’t have access to other treatments.

Because CM can be such a powerful tool for rural recovery homes, the Fletcher Group Rural Center Of Excellence previously teamed up with HRSA to provide significant incentives for recovery homes to implement CM at no cost and to then assist the Fletcher Group in documenting the results. To watch a video describing the original offer click here.

More About CM

CM is endorsed as an evidence-based intervention by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and by SAMHSA’s Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network and is already being practiced at 108 facilities within the U.S. Veteran’s Administration, the nation’s largest healthcare system. It’s also been implemented by the New York City Health and Hospital Addiction Treatment Service and is a standard treatment in the United Kingdom National Health Services.

More About Our Partnership

Because CM can be such a powerful tool for operators of Recovery Residences, the Fletcher Group Rural Center Of Excellence previously launched two important collaborations: one with David Ledgerwood, PhD, of Wayne State University and one with Michael McDonell, PhD, and other faculty members at Washington State University. Both efforts sought to apply Contingency Management in rural recovery residences. Wayne State researchers conducted a pilot project involving several recovery homes in rural communities that were provided with training and support for recovery residences as well as all necessary materials, technology, and incentives. Washington State researchers conducted surveys and interviews with Recovery Residence operators and staff to assess their knowledge of CM and promote its adoption. The information collected has since been used to develop Best Practice applications of CM in rural RH.

Care to Watch the Fletcher Group’s March 10 Webinar on CM?

To watch a video recording of the March 10, 2022 Webinar hosted by Dr. Mike McDonell and Dr. Sarah Parent of Washington State University, click the image to the right.

This web page is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $17.1 million with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.