Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Describe and apply ethical principles specific to an addictions counselor in order to make informed treatment decisions.  
• Apply the major components of ethical codes for an addiction counselor to ensure that compliance with the expected conduct of an addiction counselor is maintained. 
• Evaluate a clinical setting for its compliance with ethical requirements to ensure that the clinician in training is compliant with the external ethical mandates as defined by the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon in order to allow their acquisition and maintenance of their CADC certification. 
• Use a decision-making model to address issues, values, and principles in ethical dilemmas relating to addiction counseling.
• Communicate a personal value system with emphasis on how these values are likely to impact counseling practice.
• Identify the professional organizations for addiction-related professionals and the resources they provide.
• Adhere to federal and state laws and agency regulations regarding the treatment of substance use disorders including being able to articulate 42 CFR, Part II including the exceptions.

1.     Demonstrate knowledge of ethical codes, definitions of terms, ethical concepts and issues through a knowledge based objective or essay examination.

2.     Demonstrate ability to articulate one area of ethics by presenting one ethical issue to peers in the classroom setting including didactic and experiential components.

3.     Demonstrate ethical reasoning ability utilizing ethical codes and guidelines.

4.     Produce a professional cover letter and resume.

1.     Basic Moral Principles

2.     Ethical Decision Making Models

3.     Counselor Self-Awareness and Self-Care

4.     Counselor Values Including Counselor/Client Value Conflicts

5.     Client Rights Including Informed Consent

6.     Federal Confidentiality and Exceptions Including Child Abuse

7.     Duty to Warn and Protect and Community Resources

8.     Suicide Prevention and Community Resources

9.     Maintaining Ethical Behavior and Dual Relationships

10. Professional Boundaries

11. Professional competence, Scope of Practice, Credentialing, Continued Education

Course Content:

Concepts, Themes, and Issues

1.     Cover Letters and Resumes

2.     Addiction Counselor Certification Board of Oregon ACCBO Ethics Statement and Ethics Committee

3.     National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, NAADAC, Ethical Standards of Credentialed Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.

4.     Addiction Counselor Professional Organizations

5.     Clinical Supervision

6.     Non-discrimination Including Disability Accommodation Knowledge

      Multicultural Issues/Ethics

7.     Gay and Lesbian issues/Ethics

8.     Inter-professional Relationships

9.     Societal Obligations

10. Marital and Family Therapy Ethics

11. Adoption and Safe Families Act and Senate Bill 689 and Ethical Considerations for Addictions Counselors

12. Group Counseling Ethics

Process Skills

1.     Demonstrate ethical behaviors by adhering to established professional codes of ethics in order to maintain professional standards and safeguard the client.

2.     Adhere to Federal and State laws and agency regulations regarding the treatment of substance use disorders.

3.     Interpret and apply information from current counseling and psychoactive substance use research literature to improve client care and enhance counselor professional growth.

4.     Interpret and apply information from current counseling and psychoactive substance use research literature to improve client behavior and apply this understanding to clinical practice.

5.     Utilize a range of supervisory options to process personal feelings and concerns about clients.

6.     Conduct self-evaluations of professional performance applying ethical legal and professional standards to enhance self-awareness and performance.

7.     Obtain appropriate continuing professional education.

8.     Participate in ongoing supervision and consultation.

9.     Develop and utilize strategies to maintain one’s own physical and mental health.