The NAADAC Ethical Codes - Research Paper Example

The NAADAC Ethical Codes Introduction This research paper is based on the NAADAC Ethical Code Principles which are considered to be essential for effective practice by addiction counselors. A justification or rationale for the choice of five out of the ten principles for addiction professionals as being more significant in practice is provided in the paper. In addition, the research paper describes and illustrates the impact and implications of these principles on clinical practice. This includes the legal, ethical, individual and social cultural implications of the principles on the role of an addiction professional in counseling clients with addiction problems. More importantly, the paper presents a discussion of how the work environment would influence the adherence of clinicians to the provisions of NAADAC principles. Essential NAADAC Ethical Code Principles The Principle of Counseling Relationship The Principle of Counseling Relationship as provided by NAADAC mandates addiction counselors to ensure that the integrity of the relationships within the process of counseling is maintained. In this relationship, the beneficial services that the client requires must be provided by the counselor in the most effective way (NAADAC 2012). This principle is essential for effective in the treatment of drug addictions because relationships in counseling define and determine the success of the assessment and the interventions used in treatment (Toriello & Benshoff, 2009). In addition, this principle is essential for effective treatment of addictions because it mandates addiction counselors to play their informational role in letting their clients to know the extent to which the counseling relationship will be experienced (NAADAC 2012). More importantly, the counseling relationship principle prevents addiction counselors from taking advantage of the exploitable and vulnerable clients whom they often encounter in practice (NAADAC 2012). Addiction counselors must support and nurture the development of the counseling relationship with an aim of promoting self health esteem and self sufficiency among clients with drug addiction problems (Manhal-Baugus, 2009). It is therefore arguable that the counseling relationship principle is highly essential in ensuring the effective, appropriate and successful counseling of clients is achieved through the motivation of a proper and professional relationship within the processes of counseling. The Principle of Confidentiality and Privacy The principle of confidentiality or privileged communication and privacy is very essential in the counseling services of drug addiction clients. This is attributed to the fact that this principle acts to protect clients from unlawful and unauthorized release of private or confidential information on clients (NAADAC 2012). Confidentiality and privacy in addiction counseling are important elements of clinical practice because they safeguard client data especially in counseling services that are offered to groups, couples and families (Gabe & Norton, 2009). This principle limits the use of client data as provided by the ethics and regulations of professional practice among counselors. In addition, unauthorized use of client data or private information for reasons other than the treatment of the drug addiction problem is prohibited by this essential principle for addiction counselors (Guydish, 2012). According to the principle of confidentiality and privacy, a review of the confidentiality of the client must be conducted in the counseling process in addition to the drafting of a document which describes the confidentiality that is to be provided to clients (NAADAC 2012). In this sense therefore, this principle is essential as it plays an important role in defining the standards of privacy and confidentiality of client data as soon as it is provided to the counselor. More significantly, the principle of confidentiality and privacy provides that consent is obtained from the client before personal data is presented to third parties (NAADAC 2012). This demonstrates the important of this principle in ensuring that counselors put all necessary effort to protect the private and confidential data of the client from unauthorized access, disclosure or use (Sias, 2009). The Principle of Professional Responsibility According to this principle, addiction counselors are mandated to adhere to their professional responsibility of ensuring integrity and objectivity in the counseling process. In addition, this principle provides that addiction counselors provide the highest standard of counseling for their clients with drug addiction problem (NAADAC 2012). It is therefore notable that this principle is essential and important in ensuring that the process of counseling is of high quality and standard and as a result leading to provision of appropriate and objective counseling services to all clients. In addition, the principle of professional responsibility is essential in addiction counseling because it ensures that counselors employ their competent authority in practice (Menovschikov, 2010). More notably, this principle is designed to ensure that counselors are aware of the implications that will emanate from the clinical decisions that they make in the processes of counseling. In this regard, responsible decisions are made which leads to effective and appropriate treatment for clients with drug addiction problem. Furthermore, the principle of professional responsibility allows counselors to be aware of the actions or words which would harm others and as a result practice with a sole aim of ensuring that the clients are protected from any form of harm which leads to high quality treatment processes (Guydish, 2012). This principle is argued to be essential in addiction counseling because it ensures that the personal conduct of the counselor and the decisions made in the counseling processes are responsible and in line with the ethical and legal frameworks which govern clinical practice. The Principle of Working within a Culturally Diverse Environment This principle calls upon addiction counselors or professionals to understand and uphold the importance that culture and ethnicity plays in determining the perceptions, beliefs and values within the world (NAADAC 2012). This principle is argued to be essential in clinical practice of addiction counselors because of the cultural diversity which characterize the contemporary work environment and its impact on appropriate and quality in service delivery. It is therefore through this principle that the values and beliefs of clients as defined by their culture and ethnicity will be married into the addiction counseling process. In addition, the principle of working within a culturally diverse world allows counselors to be aware of that clients would have disabilities that would be unobvious (Mellin, Hunt & Nichols, 2011). In this sense, the counselors are able to achieve an effective assessment of the client so that the diverse needs are effectively met. When working with a drug addiction client, professionals are mandated by this principle to recognize possible disabilities such as hearing impairment, physical or brain injury, lerning disabilities or chronic illnesses which would be etiological implications for the drug addiction problem (NAADAC 2012). It is therefore evident that the diversity of clients is given adequate consideration by counselors through this principle. As a result, diverse needs of clients are understood and appropriately met. This makes it justifiable that the principle of working within a culturally diverse world is very essential for high quality in the delivery of counseling services to drug addiction patients. The Principle of Resolving Moral and Ethical Standards According to the provisions of this principle, the behavior of addiction professionals must be in line with the moral, ethical and legal frameworks of clinical practice (NAADAC 2012). Therefore this principle is argued to be very essential in addiction counseling because it leads to practice which is aimed at ensuring that counseling of drug addiction patients is morally, ethically and legally right. As a result the safety of the client is upheld and the problem solved with consideration of the appropriate standards of clinical practice (Manhal-Baugus, 2009). More importantly, addiction professionals are required to effectively resolve any ethical and moral dilemmas which emanate from the processes of counseling. This is to be achieved through proper and open communication of information among all individuals or groups that are involved in the addiction counseling processes (NAADAC 2012). This principle is also considered to be very essential in addiction counseling because it allows appropriate consultations on issues or morality, ethics and regulations which define professional practice in addiction counseling (Toriello & Benshoff, 2009). This leads to efficient resolution of the ethical and moral dilemmas which are inevitably experienced during the processes of addiction counseling. More significantly though is the fact that this principle leads to appropriate supervision of the activities and processes of addiction counseling so that ethical and moral obligation are adhered to by all parties. It is therefore reflective that this principle is essential as a prerequisite of effective treatment of problems related to drug addiction. Impact and Implications of the NAADAC Ethical Code on Clinical Practice The impact or implications of NAADAC Ethical Code within clinical practice can be understood in line with their role in defining the ethical, legal, individual and social cultural aspects or culture of practice. It is important to note that the NAADAC principles would have both positive and negative implications in clinical practice depending on the behavior of the clinician, attitudes, skills, knowledge and experience. In addition, the implications of these principles are defined by the nature of counseling and client factors. The implications of the principles of NAADAC’s Ethical Code are in clinical practice are discussed and illustrated in the following sections of the paper. Ethical implication NAADAC’s principles define the relationship that exists between the counselor and addiction clients. This includes the relationship of the counselor with individual clients, groups and family members. Professional ethics in developing and maintaining relationships within the counseling processes are adhered to through the guiding framework of these principles. I It is emphasized that it is through the guidance of these principles that a clinician is able to establish effective and professional relationships with clients (Sias, 2009). This leads to the promotion of the assessment of the needs and problems of clients so that appropriate and ethical interventions are employed to meet these needs. The NAADAC principles act as a framework within which a clinician solves ethical and moral dilemmas so that all parties are satisfied with the decisions that are reached. In this sense, conflicts are prevented in clinical practice. More importantly the principles define the responsibilities of addiction counselors in relation to the adherence to the ethics of professional or clinical practice. This means that the violation of the ethics of practice would lead to the loss of a clinician’s license to practice as a counselor. It is therefore notable that the principles have significant ethical implications on a clinician’s practice. Legal Implication The NAADAC’s principles guide clinical practice so that the legal framework for practice is not violated. As a result, the legal consequences which would emanate from a violation of regulations on professional conduct of counselors are avoided by a clinician (Doyle, 2010). For example the use of medical records by a clinician is regulated by the provisions for confidentiality and privacy of client data. In addition, clinicians use the principles to defend their decisions and actions during practice within a court of law in case of a lawsuit from a client. In this regard, a clinician achieves justice through the role of the NAADAC’s principles in clinical practice. Through the guidance of these principles, a clinician prevents all forms of harm to clients. Therefore it is evident that the violation of the legal provisions on clinical practice such as negligence and harm to clients would lead to legal consequences to the clinician. Individual Implications NAADAC’s principles determine individual behavior of clinicians during the processes of counseling. This includes the manner in which the clinician related to the clients and the processes of communication. In addition execution of individual responsibilities of a clinician in practice as an addiction counselor is determined by the provisions of these principles. Additionally, the NAADAC’s principles allow clinicians to effectively execute their individual duties in the care of clients with a problem of addiction to various drugs (Gabe & Norton, 2009). For example the availability of the clinician when required by the clients is mandated by the provisions of these principles. This means that the clinician must be available to provide adequate counseling and information to clients as they require (Kaplan & Gladding, 2011) Social Cultural Implications The NAADAC’s principles allow a clinician to appreciate the cultural diversity which exists within the world, the work environment and the relationship with clients and their families. As a result the clinician is able to include the needs, beliefs and values of the clients in the process of counseling clients with a problem of drug addiction. In addition, the principles allow clinician to solve various issues that clients experience in line with their cultural, social and ethnic affiliations (Crabb & Linton, 2011). More notably, the principles define the behavior of the clinician towards different clients who come from divergent social cultural backgrounds. This is associated with need of the clinician to identify diverse needs and meet them effectively as defined by the NAADAC’s principles (Ducharme, Knudsen, Abraham, & Roman, 2010). The management of groups and families by a clinician during the process of addiction counseling is determined and guided by the provisions of the NAADAC’s principles. Through the NAADAC’s principles, clinicians are also able to employ various theories in practice such as social justice, multicultural counseling and the development of individual identities within different social cultural environments. This means that these principles help clinicians to provide high quality care which is in line with the social and cultural affiliations, values and beliefs of clients. This leads to the satisfaction of the patient to the counseling process and a resultant improvement of the reputation of the counselor. Work Settings and Impact on the NAADAC Ethical Code Principles The organizational culture within the health care facility will influence the adherence of a clinician to the NAADAC’s principles. This means that the organizational behavior on the procedures and standards of patient assessment, responsibilities and roles of clinicians will determine the effectiveness into which the NAADAC’s principles are upheld (Doyle, 2010). For example a health care culture which prioritizes the needs of the clients regardless of the economic, social, cultural or religious standing is likely to promote the propensity of clinicians to adhere to the NAADAC’s principles (Kaplan & Gladding, 2011). In addition, the management processes and monitoring activities within a health care facility will influence the role of addiction professionals as defined by the NAADAC’s principles. This means that effective monitoring, evaluation and assessment of clinicians on regular basis is likely to motivate adherence to all principles within the NAADAC framework. The organizational setting or environment such as the use of technology to manage health records is another significant factor which would determine the adherence of an addiction professional to the NAADAC’s principles. This is illustrated by the fact that the level of technology in the management of health records and security policies and standards will define the extent into which a clinician is able to uphold the confidentiality and privacy of personal data of clients with a problem of drug addiction (Menovschikov, 2010). In addition the ability of the clinician to adhere to professional responsibilities such as communication to clients is influenced by the technical framework within the health care facility (Crabb & Linton, 2011). Furthermore the learning programs, seminars and conferences that are held within a health care environment determine the awareness and appreciation of a clinician to the NAADAC’s principles. Conclusion In the light of the above justifications, discussion and illustrations, it is conclusive that the NAADAC Ethical Code Principles play a very vital role in effective practice in addiction counseling. The principles of Counseling Relationship, Confidentiality and Privacy, Professional Responsibility, Working within a Culturally Diverse Environment and Resolving Moral and Ethical Standards are considered very essential in addiction counseling. These principles however have legal, ethical, individual and social cultural implications on a clinician as described within this paper. It is also necessary to consider that the work environment such as culture, management, health record systems and learning programs influence the ability of addiction professionals to adhere to all principles within the NAADAC framework. References Crabb, A. C., & Linton, J. M. (2011). A Qualitative Study of Recovering and Nonrecovering Substance Abuse Counselors' Belief Systems. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 28(1), 4-20. Doyle, K. (2010). Substance Abuse Counselors in Recovery: Implications for the Ethical issue of Dual Relationships. Journal of Counseling & Development, 75(6), 428-432 Ducharme, L. J., Knudsen, H. K., Abraham, A. J., & Roman, P. M. (2010). Counselor Attitudes toward the Use of Motivational Incentives in Addiction Treatment. American Journal on Addictions, 19(6), 496-503. Gabe, J. & Norton, M. A. (2009). NAADAC desk reference and study guide on addiction counseling. Arlington, VA: NAADAC. Guydish, J. (2012). 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Retrieved on November 22, 2012 from < http://www.naadac.org/membership/membership-information/405> Sias, S. M. (2009). Substance Abuse Counselors and Moral Reasoning: Hypothetical and Authentic Dilemmas. Counseling & Values, 53(3), 195-201. Toriello, P. J., & Benshoff, J. J. (2009). Substance Abuse Counselors and Ethical Dilemmas: The Influence of Recovery and Education Level. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 23(2), 83. Read More