Preliminary findings: Contingency management targeting psycho-stimulant use results in secondary decreases in smoking for severely mentally ill adults.

BACKGROUND Treatments for drug addiction and smoking in severely mentally ill (SMI) adults are needed. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of a contingency management (CM) intervention targeting psycho-stimulant on cigarette smoking. METHODS 126 stimulant dependent SMI smokers were assigned to CM or a non-contingent control condition. Rates of smoking-negative (<3 ppm) carbon monoxide breath-samples were compared. RESULTS Individuals who received CM targeting psycho-stimulants were 79% more likely to submit a smoking-negative breath-sample relative to controls. CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE This study provides initial evidence that a behavioral treatment for drug use results in reductions in cigarette smoking in SMI adults.