Created in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, A New Direction is a flexible, evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) curriculum that treats addiction in justice-involved clients and is proven to reduce recidivism. The updated and revised curriculum is divided into seven core topics, with all new companion videos and a Facilitator Guide to better serve clients.
Criminal and Addictive Thinking DVD
Justice-involved clients learn to identify the distorted thinking patterns at the root of substance use disorder and criminal behavior. By being aware of their thought patterns, clients are able to replace those distorted thoughts and make healthier choices. The Criminal and Addictive Thinking corresponds to workbook content and contains inspiring success stories from program participants and insight from licensed counselors. With closed captions and Spanish subtitles.
A New Direction program features:
- Updated and Revised—The best-selling curriculum has been updated and revised to present seven core topics in a positive, easy-to-understand way. New exercises include Quick Reviews and personal reflections to encourage behavior change.
- Easy to Understand—A New Direction uses a strengths-based instructional approach with inclusive language and grade 6 readability.
- Flexible and Customizable—Build the treatment plan that meets your clients' specific needs. Implement the full collection with seven workbooks, companion videos, and the Facilitator Guide, or choose the modules that will most benefit each of your clients.
- Evidence Based—Participating in a substance use disorder treatment program significantly reduces recidivism in justice-involved clients, according to a study by the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Also Consider
Supplement this lesson with the Facilitator Guide and Criminal and Addictive Thinking workbook.
Help clients identify the distorted thinking patterns at the root of substance use disorder and criminal behavior. Newly updated and revised, A New Direction is Hazelden's leading evidence-based treatment program for justice-involved clients.
Summary of Research
Several studies have been conducted to measure the effects substance abuse treatment has on offenders. Compared to untreated offenders, justice-involved clients who participated in A New Direction or a similar treatment program demonstrated:
- Reduced relapse rates
- Reduced recidivism rates
- Greater recovery meeting attendance
- Healthier thought patterns
Reduced Relapse and Recidivism
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Behavioral Health found that six months after entering a treatment program that implemented A New Direction:
- 95.7% of the successfully discharged clients (completed the entire program) were abstinent
- 97.9% had not been arrested
- 53.2% were working full- or part-time
- 85% reported attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), or similar meetings
- 95.9% said they felt that the jail-based treatment program was either very beneficial or beneficial overall
Michigan's Van Buren/Cass District Health Department Substance Abuse Services compared arrest rates and found:
- The arrest rate for similar offenders receiving treatment as usual was 31.5%
- The arrest rate for A New Direction participants was 4.4%
Three- and six- month treatment programs significantly reduced recidivism. Twelve-month did not, according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Healthier thought patterns
Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and North Carolina Division of Adult Correction Section of Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Programs (ACDP) both implemented A New Direction and administered the Criminal Thinking Scales developed by Texas Christian University, Institute of Behavior Research.
- IDPH found significant decreases in all criminal thinking scales: entitlement, justification, power orientation, cold heartedness, criminal rationalization, and personal irresponsibility, indicating improvement in criminal thinking for all scales.
- ACDP found lower scores on virtually all subscales, especially entitlement, justification of criminal behavior, criminal rationalization, and personal irresponsibility.
Reduced Overall Spending
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), providing treatment saves between $2 and $6 for every dollar spent due to reduced criminal behavior and re-incarceration.
Michigan's Van Buren/Cass District Health Department Substance Abuse Services provided corrections treatment services using A New Direction as its treatment program in 2006 and saved $77,099 in jail costs.
