What is Moral Reconation Therapy?

What is Moral Reconation Therapy and How Effective is It?

Due to the complexity of mental disorders such as addiction, or substance use disorder, there tends to be a need for individualized treatment programs and a variety of treatment methods. Addiction treatment is about treating the individual, and one of the methods that have shown substantial success is moral reconation therapy. 

Is Moral Reconation Therapy right for you? Learn more here.

Moral Reconation Therapy Explained

It’s common for drug abusers to partake in criminal activities as their drug- and alcohol-seeking behavior puts them in dangerous waters for which they can be incarcerated for. Moral reconation therapy (MRT) is a method of treatment that is aimed at treating drug felony offenders in order to reduce recidivism, which is the tendency of convicted felons to re-offend.

It works by using similar techniques to some of the most popular treatment approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), in a unique approach that has proven to be effective in both the young adult and adult population. The areas that are focused on in MRT include the following:

• Ego
• Social beliefs and behavior
• Improve moral reasoning
• Creating positive behavioral growth

MRT can be done in both individual and group therapy sessions, and group sessions tend to occur about one or two times a week and the entire program can last from 3 to 6 months. A person in the program will have homework to complete, and various structured group exercises surrounding the 12-16 steps in the program. These steps focus on the seven basic issues of treatment, which include:

• The formation of a positive identity
• Confronting the behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that have a negative impact on their life and may be causing substance abuse.
• A thorough assessment of your current relationships
• A reduction in self-indulgence and improved frustration tolerance
• Helping to develop better moral reasoning
• The reinforcement of positive habits and behavior
• Improvement of self-concept

Moral Reconation Therapy Effectiveness

Does moral reconation therapy work? Research done on the moral reconation therapy effectiveness in a group of offenders and a group of offenders that didn’t get MRT treatment suggest that it is highly effective for both young adults (18-25) and adults (26-55). Gender didn’t seem to influence the results either. According to a study that followed 70 felony drug offenders that were treated with MRT and another group of 82 felony drug offenders that were not treated, recidivism was reduced to 24.3 percent in the MRT group compared to 36.6 percent in the control group that had no treatment.

Based on these findings, we can answer the question “does moral reconation therapy work?” by stating that MRT is about 50 percent more effective at reducing recidivism and substance abuse than not receiving treatment. It was also shown that the more steps that a person completed (the 12 to 15 steps in the program), and the number of aftercare sessions a person partook in had a direct correlation between being arrested again and going on to live a drug-free, lawful life.

Recommended Candidates

According to the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, MRT is an ideal solution for the following types and groups of people:

• Young adults (18-25)
• Adults (26-55)
• Males and females
• All races
• People in the correctional system

Get Help Today

If you are concerned about the long-term consequences of an addicted friend or family member that has been convicted on charges relating to their substance abuse, or behaviors that were caused by their substance abuse, then get in touch with WhiteSands today to see what the treatment options are. Call us at (877) 855-3470.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.