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Clinical observations and empirical evidence suggest that, among Vietnam combat veterans, Blacks are more maladjusted than Whites (e.g., Parsons, 1985; Penk et al., 1985). The prediction that minority group status is associated with poorer post‐war adjustment and higher rates of PTSD was examined among Vietnam combat veterans who were seeking treatment for addiction disorders. Adjustment scores among groups comparable in combat exposure were found to be similar for both Whites and Hispanics; Blacks, however, score significantly higher on both PTSD symptoms and on MMPI scales. These findings indicate that ethnicity contributes importantly to PTSD in selected instances, but that minority group status alone does not account for observed differences. Additional research is indicated in which careful attention is given to the complicating and interacting role of addiction disorders in sampling.

Assessed effects of volunteering on investigations of drug abuse. MMPI profiles of 4 matched groups of 34 Ss each entering a drug-treatment program were compared: (a) heroin-using volunteers, (b) nonheroin drug-taking volunteers, (c) heroin-using nonvolunteers, and (d) nonheroin drug-taking nonvolunteers. All Ss were male, White, and 24 yrs of age. Volunteering heroin users and nonheroin drug users evidenced heightened disturbance in all aspects of adjustment as compared with heroin and nonheroin drug-using nonvolunteers. Control of voluntarism minimized differences between volunteer heroin users and nonheroin users but not between nonvolunteer heroin users and nonheroin drug users. Results do not support interpretations that predisposing personality features contribute to compulsive drug use. (20 ref)

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This study evaluated the effectiveness of a contingency contracting intervention on reducing illicit drug use by methadone maintenance outpatients. Twenty-one methadone maintenance patients were selected on the basis of positive urinalysis results during a 60-day baseline. Illicit drug use was significantly reduced during the 30-day intervention and remained below baseline levels during a 60-day follow-up. The results suggest that contingency contracting can be an effective intervention for increasing treatment compliance among problem patients in methadone maintenance programs.

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