Abstinence Reinforcing Contingency Management to Suppress HIV Viral Load (Project First), New York City, 2012 (ICPSR 39785)
Version Date: Apr 20, 2026 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
Chinazo O. Cunningham, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Series:
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39785.v1
Version V1
Summary View help for Summary
This study is part of the Seek, Test, Treat and Retain (STTR) Collaboration Project that involved over twenty studies in the fields of HIV and drug abuse. All studies were independently developed, but were chosen for the collaboration because they focused on one or more steps of the HIV treatment cascade: Seek, Test, Treat and Retain. As part of STTR Collaboration Project, the studies were grouped into Criminal Justice-related studies and Vulnerable Population-related studies. The data collected by these studies included twelve common domains (e.g., Demographic characteristics, Mental Health) in each of which a shared questionnaire or instrument was taken up by the studies and adapted to fit the study.
Using a randomized controlled study design, this study tested the efficacy of an abstinence-reinforcing CM intervention compared with a control condition (performance feedback) on HIV viral load (VL) suppression. The intervention CM group could receive up to $1320 in vouchers over the 16-week intervention based on drug-free urine. Participants were followed for 28 weeks (44 visits), with research visits occurring twice weekly during the Baseline Period (weeks 1-4, visits 1-8) and Intervention Period (weeks 5-20, visits 9-40), then every two weeks during the Post-Intervention Period (weeks 21-28, visits 41-44).
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Users are reminded that these data are to be used solely for statistical analysis and reporting of aggregated information, and not for the investigation of specific individuals or organizations.
Access to the data is restricted. Users interested in obtaining these data must complete a Restricted Data Use Agreement. Data are provided via ICPSR's Virtual Data Enclave (VDE). Apply for access to these data through the ICPSR VDE portal. Information and instructions are available within the data portal. For further assistance please reference the VDE Guide to learn about the application process, about using the VDE, and how to request disclosure review of VDE output.
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Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes
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Please note that all data files have been converted to the Stata format, trimmed to include only participants enrolled in the study, and had cross-study IDs and other variables appended.
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This study includes baseline and longitudinal data files, study summaries, and study data documentation.
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This release is a Fast Track Release and is distributed as it was received from the data depositor. Users should consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.
- For tracking participants across multiple studies, users should refer to STTR_IDU_vs_Non_20171102.dta in study ICPSR 39783.
Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose
The purpose of this study is to test whether an abstinence-reinforcing contingency management intervention improves HIV viral load suppression in HIV-infected drug users receiving drug and HIV treatment, by following two aims:
- Aim 1: To test the efficacy of a 16-week abstinence-reinforcing contingency management intervention on VL suppression.
- Aim 2: To examine mechanisms of achieving VL suppression with our abstinence-reinforcing CM intervention.
Study Design View help for Study Design
This is a randomized controlled study of 16-week CM intervention vs Performance feedback:
- Intervention: The 16-week CM intervention consisted of participants receiving vouchers exchangeable for goods and services (worth up to $1320) contingent on achieving abstinence, defined as urine free of cocaine and opiates.
- Control: Performance feedback consisted of providing feedback to participants with informational slips of paper indicating results of urine tests.
To ensure an equal distribution of key factors between the study groups, the research team stratified randomization by site (DoSA clinics, ID clinic, other clinics) and cocaine use (yes, no). Randomization was conducted in blocks to ensure equal randomization over short periods of time to avoid period effects.
Sample View help for Sample
Participants were recruited using active (i.e. via medical staff, letters) and passive (i.e. flyers, advertisements, word-of-mouth) recruitment strategies from Einstein's Division of Substance Abuse (DoSA), Montefiore's community clinics, Montefiore's ID Clinic, the surrounding community and local newspapers.
Time Method View help for Time Method
Universe View help for Universe
HIV-infected drug users in New York City receiving drug and HIV treatment who have suboptimal drug treatment (using cocaine or opioids while on opioid agonist treatment) and suboptimal HIV treatment (detectable HIV viral load while prescribed highly active antiretroviral therapy).
Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation
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Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables
The data includes variables about participants' medication and health history, and substance use. Demographic variables include race, gender, income, and employment.
Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales
The following scales were used in this study:
- Center for Epidemiologic Studies (CESD) scale (depression and anxiety)
- Beck's Anxiety Inventory (depression and anxiety)
Notes
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One or more files in this data collection have special restrictions. Restricted data files are not available for direct download from the website; click on the Restricted Data button to learn more.

This study is maintained and distributed by the National Addiction and Health Data Archive Program (NAHDAP). NAHDAP is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).