Targeting Addiction Treatment Engagement: A Canadian Randomized Effectiveness Trial of Remotely Administered Contingency Management for Treatment Attendance: Cibler l'engagement en matière de traitement des dépendances : essai d'efficacité à répartition aléatoire mené au Canada portant sur la gestion des contingences mise en œuvre à distance pour la participation au traitement
- Journal
- Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie (Q1)
- Published
- 27 August 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- David C Hodgins, Jane Yi, Angela Wallace, Laurence Macrae Lynch, Ashley Ethier, Luija Long, et al.
- PMID
- 42658272
- DOI
- 10.1177/07067437261477550
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Psychiatry and Mental Health (top studies of the week, 30 August 2026): Randomized trial of contingency management for SUD
Abstract
IntroductionContingency management (CM) is an evidence-based treatment used as a stand-alone treatment or an adjunct to usual care for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). However, its use in clinical practice is limited, particularly in Canada. This study implemented and evaluated the effectiveness of CM for SUDs in 2 outpatient addiction clinics in Alberta.MethodsA 3-month, 2-armed, parallel-group, unblinded intervention comparing attendance-based CM (n = 43) with a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group (n = 45). Participants in the CM group were incentivized using a hybrid prize-and-voucher method. Specifically, treatment attendance was rewarded with virtual prize draws, the number of which accrued incrementally based on consecutive attendance.ResultsParticipants in CM were retained in treatment for longer durations and attended more treatment sessions with greater consistency compared to participants in TAU. No differences between groups were observed for substance use outcomes or quality of life. The small sample size limits the generalizability of the results.ConclusionOur results support the adaptability of CM in the Canadian context to improve treatment retention and attendance. The remote capabilities of CM reduce the barriers to access, allowing for greater reach of this intervention. The results highlight how CM can be tailored to be more economical through its focus on attendance, a focus consistent with improving addiction recovery in Canada.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.