Canadian Broadcast Corporation News Highlights WSU’s Contingency Management Research with Dr. Michael McDonell

A recent Canadian Broadcast Corporation News article spotlights the growing success of contingency management, a reward-based intervention gaining traction in multiple states, including Washington, California, Delaware, and Hawaii, to help individuals combat substance use disorders.

Contingency management is a behavioral treatment approach that provides tangible incentives—such as prizes, vouchers, or gift cards—to individuals who demonstrate abstinence from substance use. Dr. Michael McDonell, a professor in the WSU College of Medicine’s Department of Community and Behavioral Health, has dedicated years of research to evaluating its effectiveness.

“It’s a little unusual because the way it works is that it’s a procedure where the person comes in and they usually have a really positive, fun interaction with the clinician,” McDonell told CBC. “If [a test] shows that the person hasn’t used [stimulants] in the last few days, they have a really big celebration and give that person a gift card.”

The CBC article highlights the significant impact of contingency management programs currently operating in California, Montana, and Washington. Participants provide urine samples for rapid drug testing twice a week, and for each negative test, they receive a financial incentive. The program begins with a $12 gift card, with rewards increasing over time and capping at $599 per calendar year. This structured, escalating reinforcement model has been shown to be a powerful motivator, particularly for individuals struggling with stimulant use disorders.

Managed Health Connections and the Future of Contingency Management

One of the most innovative advancements in contingency management is happening at Managed Health Connections, Inc. (MHC), which is collaborating with Dr. McDonell, Dr. Sterling McPherson, and Dr. Andre Miguel on a groundbreaking study focused on Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Unlike traditional contingency management programs that rely on clinic-based urine testing, MHC is integrating biometric validation and AI-driven analytics to enhance accessibility, security, and real-time monitoring. By reducing the need for in-person testing, this approach aims to expand contingency management access to individuals who may face barriers to clinic visits, such as those in rural areas or those with limited mobility.

For a deeper dive into Dr. McDonell’s research and firsthand experiences from program participants, read the full CBC News article which is listed below.

Citation

Anais Elboujdaini. “Washington State Is Giving People Gift Cards to Help Get Them off Drugs.” CBC, 10 Feb. 2025, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/washington-state-free-gift-cards-to-get-off-drugs-1.7454079.

Isaacson, L. (2025). CBC News Highlights Michael McDonell, WSU Contingency Management Research. Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine News. https://medicine.wsu.edu/news/2025/02/10/cbc-news-wsu-contingency-management-research/