Fact Sheet Getting Started with Contingency Management
Published: July 31, 2026
Contingency management (CM) is an evidence-based treatment approach for multiple substance use disorders that uses incentives to reinforce behaviors related to recovery from substance use. This fact sheet provides an overview of the intervention as well as information about managing a rewards system, measuring success, and funding the program.
Topics include:
- What is Contingency Management?
- How Does Contingency Management Work?
- What Makes Contingency Management an Important Tool in Substance Use Treatment?
- Components of a Contingency Management Program
- Managing a Reinforcement (Rewards) System
- Measuring Overall Success
- Funding Contingency Management
- Talking about Contingency Management
*This resource was updated in July 2026 to reflect current policy.