Contingency Contracting In The Treatment of Alcohol Abuse

Author(s)

Harold Rosenberg, Vanderbilt University
Thomas C. Douthitt, Vanderbilt University
Mark B. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Linda C. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 1982

Publication Title

Journal of Drug Issues

Volume

12

First Page

50

ISSN

0022-0426

Last Page

60

Abstract/Excerpt

Historically, contractual agreements to control alcohol consumption have been tied to religious and temperance organizations. Recently, however, contingency contracting has been developed and investigated as a behavior therapy technique. After outlining the standard components of a contingency contract, studies investigating contingency contracting with alcohol abusers are reviewed, and clinical and ethical considerations in contracting are discussed. The research investigations show that the technique has been applied successfully with different populations of alcohol abusers and various drinking and nondrinking target behaviors. Research has also studied important aspects of the contracts themselves and has begun to recognize the role of subject characteristics in contracting. The review suggests that contracting is an effective procedure that can influence drinking and related behaviors, but this technique is relatively new and more research is needed about its most effective components and the most applicable target behaviors.

ORCID ID

0000-0001-7705-3993

NSUWorks Citation

Rosenberg, H., Douthitt, T. C., Sobell, M. B., Sobell, L. C. (1982). Contingency Contracting In The Treatment of Alcohol Abuse. Journal of Drug Issues, 12, 50-60.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/52