How can rewards and sanctions be used effectively with drug-involved offenders in treatment?
The systematic application of behavioral management principles underlying reward and punishment can help individuals reduce their drug use and criminal behavior. Rewards and sanctions are most likely to change behavior when they are certain to follow the targeted behavior, when they follow swiftly, and when they are perceived as fair. It is important to recognize and reinforce progress toward responsible, abstinent behavior. Rewarding positive behavior is more effective in producing long-term positive change than punishing negative behavior. Nonmonetary rewards such as social recognition can be as effective as monetary rewards. A graduated range of rewards given for meeting predetermined goals can be an effective strategy. In community-based treatment, contingency management strategies may use voucher-based incentives or rewards, such as bus tokens, to reinforce abstinence (measured by negative drug tests) or to shape progress toward other treatment goals, such as program session atten
