Non-aversive reduction of cigarette smoking in two adult men in a residential setting.

Two middle-aged men with mental retardation, addicted to smoking cigarettes, operated spinners that determined the probability with which they could obtain cigarettes and other items. Absence of several maladaptive behaviors permitted the operation of the spinners hourly (i.e., DRO 60 min), 16 h per day, 7 days per week. The actual frequencies of obtaining cigarettes followed the theoretical probabilities of obtaining cigarettes in all phases of the study. Presumed smoking frequencies were reduced by about 50% with associated medical benefits. Low frequencies of maladaptive behaviors were maintained throughout.