A token economy treatment of drug addiction

A token economy was introduced into a ward for drug addicts who were detoxified before entering the programme. The 52 subjects (amphetamine and opiate addicts) stayed on average 17 days in the programme. An ABABC-design, i.e. a reversal design with a non-contingent reinforcement phase at the end was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behaviour research and therapy 1975-06, Vol.13 (2), p.113-125
Main Authors: Eriksson, Jan H., Götestam, K.Gunnar, Melin, Lennart, Öst, Lars-Göran
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Amphetamines
Female
Heroin Dependence - rehabilitation
Humans
Male
Reinforcement Schedule
Reward
Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology
Substance-Related Disorders - rehabilitation
Sweden
Token Economy
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Summary:A token economy was introduced into a ward for drug addicts who were detoxified before entering the programme. The 52 subjects (amphetamine and opiate addicts) stayed on average 17 days in the programme. An ABABC-design, i.e. a reversal design with a non-contingent reinforcement phase at the end was used. The patients' activity increased from baseline to the treatment phase. During the reversal phase the activity-level decreased, and it increased again when the token economy was reintroduced. The non-reinforced activities, ward meetings and group therapy, were not influenced by the changes in contingencies for the reinforced activities. The proportion of intoxications on the ward was lower during treatment phases than during non-treatment phases.
ISSN:0005-7967
1873-622X
DOI:10.1016/0005-7967(75)90005-4