Contingency Management for Smoking in Substance Abusers

Nicoderm CQ nicotine skin patch: 21mg patch for 4 weeks, 14mg patch for 2 weeks, 7mg patch for 2 weeks. This is supplemental intervention provided to all.

Brief Advice (BA): Patients will receive four sessions of a manualized brief intervention based on NCI guidelines (Manley et al., 1991; Hollis et al., 1993) as modified for sobriety settings. This simple counseling has five components: (1) Assess smoking and initial interest in cessation; (2) Advise the patient to quit smoking; (3) Assist the patient in quitting; (4) Assess interest in quitting; and (5) Arrange booster sessions. This supplemental information is provided to all.

Condition provides contingent monetary reinforcement for smoking reductions (first 5 days) then for smoking abstinence (subsequent 14 days). Expired carbon monoxide (CO) levels will be the basis for determining reductions and abstinence.

Controls for effects of receiving payments, providing daily breath samples for CO level, and degree of interaction between patient and research staff. NR will allow them to earn an amount which is matched in amount to the expected average earned in CM contingent only on providing breath samples independent of the CO level attained.