. >> reporter: it's something daniel maldonado, who is recovering from a meth addiction, hasn't been able to do for the majority of his life, walk into a store, pick something out, and then walk up to the register to pay for it. it's all thanks to a gift card program run by our common ground, a nonprofit for substance abuse treatment. >> being able to have extra help without having to steal nothing or having to worry about nothing, just going to the store and getting it, it's a plus, you know. you ain't got to worry about going to jail. >> reporter: the concept was developed based on scientific research that shows rewards help stimulate users like maldonado recover more effectively than conventional treatment alone. maldonado has been clean for more than a year, but he used for a long time and it changed the trajectory of his life. >> i've been using since i was 9 and i started -- in 2008 i started slamming. you know what i mean? my hands, all the track marks, i did a lot of time behind the walls. at the age of 14 i ended up getting six years. >> reporter: he's fully immersed himself

. >> reporter: it's something daniel maldonado, who's recovering from meth addiction, hasn't been ableity of his life. walk into a store, pick something out, and then walk up to the register to pay for it. it's all thanks to a gift card program run by our common ground, a nonprofit for substance abuse treatment. >> being able to have extra help without having to steal nothing or having to worry about nothing, just go into a store and getting it, it's a plus, you know? you ain't got to worry about going to jail. >> reporter: the concept was developed based on scientific research that shows rewards help stimulate users like maldonado, recovery more effectively than conventional treatment alone. maldonado has been clean for over a year, but he used for a long time, and it changed the trajectory of his life. >> i've been using since i was nine. and in 2009, i started slamming. you know what i mean? my hands, all the track marks, i did a lot of time behind the wall. at the age of 14 i ended up getting six years. >> reporter: he's fully immersed himself in treatment programs, and the gift ca

. >> reporter: it's something daniel maldonado, who's recovering from meth addiction, hasn't been able to do for the majority of his life. walk into a store, pick something out, and then walk up to the register to pay for it. it's all thanks to a gift card program run by our common ground, a nonprofit for substance abuse treatment. >> being able to have extra help without having to steal nothing or having to worry about nothing, just go into a store and getting it, it's a plus, you know? you ain't got to worry about going to jail. >> reporter: the concept was developed based on scientific research that shows rewards help stimulate users like maldonado, recovery more effectively than conventional treatment alone. maldonado has been clean for over a year, but he used for a long time, and it changed the trajectory of his life. >> i've been using since i was nine. and in 2009, i started slamming. you know what i mean? my hands, all the track marks, i did a lot of time behind the wall. at the age of 14 i ended up getting six years. >> reporter: he's fully immersed himself in treatment progr