Voucher reinforcement for heroin and cocaine abstinence in a outpatient drug-free program.

This study examined an abstinence-contingent voucher incentive program in opiate-dependent clients enrolled in outpatient drug-free (nonmethadone) treatment. Study participants were referred from local detoxification programs and randomly assigned to voucher (n = 29) or no-voucher (n = 23) conditions. Both groups received intensive cognitive-behavioral counseling; those in the voucher condition could earn up to 1, 087. 50 over 3 months for submitting urines negative for both opiates and cocaine. Voucher versus no-voucher groups did not differ significantly on mean days retained in treatment (35. 9 vs. 39. 3 days), mean number of opiate- and cocaine-negative urines submitted (8. 3 vs. 6. 2), longest duration of continuous abstinence (16. 8 vs. 12. 1 days), or percentage of participants abstinent for 4 weeks (20. 7% voucher vs. 9% no voucher). Possible reasons for negative findings are discussed. Findings suggest that voucher programs must be better tailored to the clinical population and behavioral targets being addressed.