Paying People to Quit Meth? The Data Behind Contingency Management

Psychiatrist Dr. Sally Satel, medical director of a methadone clinic, explains contingency management – a harm-reduction approach where clients receive small, escalating rewards (e.g., gift cards) for clean tests. She covers why this behavioural nudge works especially for stimulant addictions (where no gold-standard meds exist), typical program structures, cost/benefit logic, and how incentives can jump-start a virtuous cycle toward work, relationships, and stability. A nuanced, evidence-informed look at an approach that’s effective yet often misunderstood.

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