Reinforcing Behaviour Change in Addiction Treatment will present findings from our National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme grant which sought to develop an evidence base for contingency management in addiction services in the UK. 

This one-day conference will include presentations covering the existing scientific evidence base for Contingency Management, findings from two UK trials assessing the effectiveness of contingency management targeted at encouraging completion of hepatitis B vaccinations (CONMAN Trial) and abstinence from street heroin (PRAISE Trial), and consider the implications of these findings for practice and policy across the UK addiction service provider network. 

Your attendance will be rewarded by free interesting presentations and lunch!

See below the draft programme.

Places are limited and will be assigned on a first come - first served basis.

*Please note that photographs and footage will be taken throughout this event and could be used for marketing and publicity including our website, social media or any third party publication.* 

This event is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA).

Registration: 9.30

Welcome (10.00-10.10) The importance of the conference (Prof Sir John Strang)

Session 1: (10.10-11.10) A potentially effective treatment: Principles of reinforcing behaviour change using contingency management and existing evidence for its effectiveness

Session chair: Prof Sir John Strang, KCL

• Using positive reinforcement to change behaviour (Dr Timothy Weaver)
• International evidence for contingency management and NICE guidelines: (Dr Nicola Metrebian)
• UK experience of providing contingency management (Robert Wolstenholme)

Session 2: (11.30-13.00) Reinforcing participation in health interventions: The Hepatitis B Trial

Session chair: Dr Owen Bowden-Jones

• Using modest financial incentives to encourage completion of hepatitis B vaccination schedule
  • Background and methods (Dr Nicola Metrebian)
  • Results (Dr Timothy Weaver)
• Modelling the long-term consequences and costs of using contingency management to encourage completion of hepatitis B vaccinations (Prof Alan Brennan)

Session 3: (14.00-15.15) Reinforcing abstinence from heroin: The PRAISE Trial

Session chair: Dr Ed Day

• Using contingency management to encourage abstinence from heroin (Dr Nicola Metrebian KCL and Dr Kimberley Goldsmith)
• Drug service staff and service user experience of receiving contingency management (Dr Timothy Weaver)
• The cost effectiveness of adding contingency management to opiate substitution treatment (Prof Sarah Byford)

Session 4: (15.30-16.30) Implications for policy and practice and new research directions

Session chair: Prof Sir John Strang

• Staff training and supervision for delivering contingency management in addiction services (Prof Stephen Pilling)
• New practice and research directions:
  • Targeting reduced cannabis use in mental health populations: The CIRCLE Trial (Dr Luke Sheridan Rains
  • Delivery of contingency management via mobile technology (Carol-Ann Getty)
• Final concluding remarks (Prof Sir John Strang, KCL)