Introduction: In this study, the effectiveness of contingency management and cognitive-be-havioral therapy on the treatment of patients with opiate dependence receiving naltrexone main-tenance treatment, was evaluated.

Method: Patients with opiate dependence between ages 20 to 49 who were receiving naltrexone maintenance treatment (n=90) were randomly assigned for 16 weeks to one of three conditions: naltrexone alone, naltrexone with contingency management, and naltrexone with cognitive be-havioral therapy. Patients were evaluated with Addiction severity Index before the beginning of treatment interventions. The three groups were again evaluated after the interventions, using the same checklist. The results were analyzed using Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey follow-up test.

Results: Significant differences were found among the three groups with regard to Addiction Se- verity Index scores, attrition and compliance. The resultant significant statistical differences in- dicate the effectiveness of contingency management and cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches in treatment of opiate dependence.  

Conclusion: Contingency management has an early effect on lowering drug abuse, but its effects are reduced after treatment. The effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy remain until months after the cessation of treatment.