CBT is a short-term, flexible approach and is clinically proven to help individuals recognize and avoid situations in which they may use drugs. The program teaches drug abusers in treatment to use coping skills to solve problems linked with drug use, such as difficult family relationships or losing a job. The manual provides an overview of the basic principles of CBT and explains the structure and topics to be used in treatment sessions. This manual guides drug abuse treatment providers in using a community reinforcement plus vouchers approach, a behavioral strategy for treating cocaine addiction that has been proven effective in clinical trials. This multicomponent treatment approach combines community reinforcement, including individual counseling and skills training, with an incentive program using vouchers.
Therapists tailor the individual counseling and skills training sessions to each patient's needs.
As long as the patient remains in treatment and abstinent from cocaine, he or she earns points that can be exchanged for vouchers to receive incentives, such as fishing licenses or gift certificates to restaurants or shops. The manual also describes the format to be used for initial counseling sessions and training sessions on drug avoidance skills.