Rewiring Reward: Contingency Management as Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorder

Podcast

Season 7: Episode 4 - November 10 2026

Runtime: 42:33

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SHOW NOTES

Summary

In this episode, host David P. Ball dives into the topic of contingency management (CM), an evidence-based behavioural treatment model for stimulant use disorder. David begins with Mark Haggerty, a peer navigator with St. Paul’s Rapid Access Addiction Clinic’s Rewarding Change program. Mark offers a rundown of the work happening in CM groups and shares how his lived experience guides the support he provides to participants. David is then joined by Dr. Paxton Bach, BCCSU’s medical director and an addiction medicine specialist, to discuss the clinical aspects of CM groups. Finally, they welcome Amanda Chapman and Dr. Anne Crawford of Island Health’s Rewarding Recovery program, who speak to operational considerations and share clinical takeaways.

Lineup

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • [1:43] – Mark Haggerty, Guest – Peer Navigator, St. Paul’s Rapid Access Addiction Clinic, Rewarding Change Program
  • [14:22] – Dr. Paxton Bach, Co-host – BCCSU Medical Director, Clinical Assistant Professor – Department of Medicine at UBC, General Internist and Addiction Medicine Physician at St. Paul’s Hospital
  • [17:06] – Amanda Chapman, Guest – Coordinator, Addiction Medicine Substance Use Program Island Health
  • [17:06] – Dr. Anne Crawford, Guest – Psychiatrist, Island Health, Rewarding Recovery Contingency Management Program, and Our Place Society – New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community of Victoria

Clinical Pearls

Here’s what listeners can take away from this episode:

  1. Contingency management is the strongest evidence-based treatment option for stimulant use disorder.
  2. The rewarded behaviour doesn’t have to be abstinence. Outcomes like attendance, follow-up appointments, or SMART goals can be incentivized and can make the program more approachable.
  3. Motivational interviewing framework can be helpful to assess whether a patient’s goals align and if they would be a good fit for the program.
  4. Running longer and flexible programs, like 20-week groups with rolling entry, paired with CBT relapse prevention and graduates welcomed to continue attending groups can help sustain gains.

Resources

Mentioned in episode

  • Petry NM. Contingency management: what it is and why psychiatrists should want to use it. Psychiatrist. 2011;35(5):161-163. doi:10.1192/pb.bp.110.031831 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3083448/
  • Providence Research. ASCME Clinical Trial. https://www.providenceresearch.ca/en/clinical-trial/ascme-clinical-trial

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