Pelago, the digital addiction treatment provider formerly known as Quit Genius, has recently launched a groundbreaking contingency management substance use disorder program aimed at boosting engagement and improving recovery outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD). This new program marks a significant advancement in digital behavioral health solutions by combining evidence-based motivational strategies with cutting-edge technology to help patients stay on track in their recovery journey.
What is Contingency Management and Why It Matters
Contingency management substance use disorder treatment is a behavioral therapy approach rooted in the principle of positive reinforcement. It incentivizes individuals to engage in healthy behaviors by providing rewards—such as prizes, privileges, or financial incentives—when they complete specific, desirable actions. The goal is to create a motivating environment that encourages adherence to treatment plans, thereby increasing the likelihood of sustained recovery.
Pelago’s contingency management substance use disorder program awards participants with “Pelatokens,” a digital reward currency, for completing important recovery-related tasks. These tasks include logging into the app for the first time, completing surveys about their progress, tracking recent substance use, scheduling appointments with coaches or counselors, and completing therapy exercises. What makes the program particularly impactful is that Pelatokens can be redeemed for U.S. dollars, offering a tangible financial incentive to keep participants engaged.
Motivation as a Driver of Success
Suzette Glasner, Pelago’s chief scientific officer, emphasized the critical role of motivation in contingency management substance use disorder treatment. “When it comes to treating substance use disorders, we know that motivation drives engagement, and engagement drives improved outcomes,” she said. “Our substance use management program is built on a foundation of successful, specialized substance use treatment, with rapid time to initiating care and individualized treatment pathways that incorporate both patient preferences and best practices rooted in addiction science.”
This approach highlights Pelago’s commitment to personalized care, ensuring that treatment is tailored to meet the unique needs and circumstances of each individual. By integrating motivational incentives directly into the treatment process, Pelago is addressing one of the biggest challenges in contingency management substance use disorder care—maintaining sustained engagement over time.
Initial Focus on Alcohol Use Disorder with Plans to Expand
Pelago plans to pilot the contingency management substance use disorder program with members seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder. However, the company has ambitious plans to extend the initiative to other types of substance use disorders, broadening its reach and impact.
Strong Financial Backing and Strategic Positioning
The launch of this program comes just weeks after Pelago successfully closed a $58 million Series C funding round, increasing the company’s total funding to over $151 million. This substantial financial backing underscores investor confidence in Pelago’s innovative approach and its potential to transform the landscape of digital addiction treatment.
Based in San Francisco, Pelago primarily operates in the B2B space, serving health plans, employers, health systems, and individual patients. In 2022, Pelago made a strategic decision to fully embrace a value-based care model with full financial risk. This model aligns incentives around delivering measurable health outcomes rather than volume of services, representing a shift toward higher quality, more efficient care.
Growing Momentum for Contingency Management in Virtual SUD Treatment
Pelago is part of a growing trend in the addiction treatment space where providers leverage contingency management substance use disorder programs to improve patient engagement and recovery success. Virtual SUD treatment startup PursueCare, for example, offers a 12-week program backed by a contingency management framework and recently secured $20 million in Series B funding. Similarly, Affect Therapeutics, another virtual SUD provider, uses financial incentives as a core part of its treatment platform to help clients maintain sobriety and raised $16 million in funding in 2023.
This growing momentum highlights a broader recognition across the behavioral health industry that financial and behavioral incentives, when combined with accessible virtual care, can dramatically improve treatment retention and outcomes.
The Future of SUD Treatment with Pelago
Pelago’s contingency management substance use disorder program represents a significant advancement in how digital tools can support individuals struggling with substance use disorders. By marrying evidence-based addiction science with a rewarding and user-friendly digital experience, Pelago aims to reduce barriers to care and empower patients to take an active role in their recovery.
As this program expands beyond alcohol use disorder to include other substance use conditions, Pelago’s model has the potential to reshape the standards for virtual addiction treatment and offer hope to countless individuals seeking lasting recovery.
In a field where motivation and sustained engagement often make the difference between relapse and recovery, Pelago’s innovative use of contingency management substance use disorder techniques could prove to be a powerful catalyst for change. With strong financial backing, a clear value-based care focus, and a commitment to patient-centered treatment, Pelago is well-positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in substance use disorder care.
