Jason Schwartz at Addiction and Recovery News posed some interesting questions about the use of incentives in treatment. He asks: If incentives help people stay in treatment, but the public is against it, is it the right thing to do?
It’s easy to dismiss incentives as a bribe or a quick fix. With our new program here at Brandywine, it’s been a challenge for even our own counselors to grasp the concept. The point is that we want clients to stick with treatment, regardless of the reason. Whether someone is self-motivated or they just want to win a gift certificate, we want them to stay, because the longer they stay, the more likely they will succeed. There is no wrong reason.
We came up with a slogan, “Participation = Celebration,” that really encapsulates the meaning of our incentives and will hopefully stay with our clients (and staff) after they hear it a number of times. I would also rely on this phrase to explain our program to the public. A little education can go a long way. Having said that, the best way to turn skeptics into supporters is with data showing improved outcomes. In our case, we’re still waiting to see this.
Jason goes on to ask, “Why are we not talking about this kind of intervention with non-compliant patients in cardiac care units, diabetes clinics, weight loss programs, etc.? Is it because we respect them too much to offer gift certificates for following their treatment plan?”
I have yet to hear that any of our clients have felt insulted at being offered a reward. I’ve been told that incentives programs have been proven to improve treatment outcomes even when the clients say the incentives didn’t make a difference. The same might just be true in other settings.
Brandywine Counseling & Community Services saves lives. We help people recover from addiction and mental illness, and reduce their HIV risk. Each life saved touches other lives, families, and communities in the Delaware region.
No comments:
Post a Comment