CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles - Report Example

CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles Affiliation The Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) Canon of Ethical Principles. Principle 1: Non-discrimination This principle states that the substance abuse counselor should in no instance discriminate against professionals or clients based on religion, disability, economic condition, race, national ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, or age. IT further states that a counselor should avoid personal issues interfering with the counseling relationship. In addition, the counselor should have good knowledge regarding the disabling conditions and make sensory, cognitive ad physical accommodations to allow the clients with disabilities to receive services (CASAC, 2014). Principle 2: Responsibility This principle expects the substance abuse counselor to espouse the integrity, objectivity and maintain high standards in their services. The substance abuse counselor should maintain respect for all management functions and institutional policies of the institutions and agencies within which the counseling services are being performed (CASAC, 2014). As an educator, the substance abuse counselor is obligated to help other people to acquire the skills and knowledge in dealing with drug abuse and alcoholism. In the duties of practicing responsibility, the substance abuse counselor is expected to report any inappropriate behavior or any unprofessional modes of practice to the appropriate authority. Principle 3: Competence The principle of competence expects the substance abuse counselor to recognize that their profession is founded on standards of competency that are meant for promotion of society’s best interests. In addition, the counselor should embrace the need for further education as an aspect of professional competency. The substance abuse counselor is expected to observe the limits and boundaries of their competencies and offer services that are in their limit. To wrap up all this, the substance abuse counselor should recognize the effect of professional performance impairment and should be in a position to seek the right treatment for themselves and colleague (CASAC, 2014). Principle 4: Legal and Moral Standards A substance abuse counselor should uphold the accepted and legal, moral codes in regards to professional conduct (CASAC, 2014). He/she should know the federal laws and state laws that govern drug abuse and alcoholism counseling. In addition, the counselor should in no case lie regarding their professional qualifications. The substance abuse counselor should also make sure that the service or products provided by the counselor through demonstration, teaching and publications, meet the ethical standards. Principle 5: Public Statements The substance abuse counselor is expected to respect the limits of the current knowledge in public statements that have links to alcoholism and drug abuse. When making statements to clients, the general public and other professionals, the substance counselor is obligated to state as facts only the issues that have been validated as facts. Principle 6: Public Credit This principle states that the substance abuse counselor is expected to assign credit to all individuals who have played a part to materials published. It involves recognizing the joint authorship and contributions made by a person to a common project. The author who had made major contributions must be identified as the top author in a publication. In addition, the substance abuse counselor should ensure they do not violate the copyright of anybody’s work except when the copyright laws allow (CASAC, 2014). Principle 7: Client Welfare The seventh principle expects the substance abuse counselor to promote the protection of safety, welfare and public health and the client’s best interest as a key guide in determining the conduct of the entire substance abuse counselors (CASAC, 2014). The substance abuse counselor should ensure that they disclose the code of ethics, responsibilities and loyalties to all the clients. In addition, the substance abuse counselor should terminate any consulting or counseling relationship if it is evident that the client is not gaining anything from it. The substance abuse counselor is expected to include the client when reaching decisions and nay recommendations that involve referrals or termination of treatment. Principle 8: Confidentiality A substance abuse counselor is expected to work in the client’s best interest and should observe his/her duty to protect the rights of the client under confidentiality. In addition, the substance abuse counselor should not disclose confidential information that was acquired in practice, teaching, and investigation without acquiring consent. Principle 9: Client Relationships A substance abuse counselor is expected to safeguard the integrity of the relationship with their client to ensure they get effective treatment. The counselor is expected to provide the client with complete and accurate information regarding the limits of the potential professional relationship. Principle 10: Remuneration This principle states that the substance counselor should come up with financial arrangements while observing professional practice in reference to the professional standards. The standards safeguard the interests of the client first, and the profession last. Principle 11: Societal Obligations This principle states that the substance abuse counselor should engage the educational institutions, legislative processes and the public in reviewing and making changes to the public policy and legislation. By doing this, it creates opportunities and choice of services for all people regardless of their background whose lives are affected by drug abuse and alcoholism (CASAC, 2014). Similarities and differences between ethical canons of other counseling fields According to the American Psychological Association (2007), there are many underlying similarities between the ethical principles of the American Psychological Association Code of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct, the ethical codes of the American Counseling Association and of the National Association of Social Workers, The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the National Organization for Human Service Educators and the OASAS CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles. All the counseling fields have various principles that apply such as Societal Obligations, Client Relationships, Confidentiality, Client Welfare, Legal and Moral Standards, Non-discrimination, Responsibility and the principle of Competence. The major aspect of these ethical principles is to ensure that the relationship between counselors and client is professional and is not influenced by external matters. Counseling requires a lot of skills and knowledge, from time to time, there are challenges that may be encountered, and the counselor is expected to have a way to intervene. Very few differences exist between the ethical canons of the counseling fields. These differences arise because of the different state laws and federal laws. In addition, all these counseling fields are deal with different populations; some with substance abusers, marriage issues and some with social workers. OASAS Counselor assistance Program The OASAS Counselor assistance program, since its establishment has made remarkable impact in people’s lives. OASAS stands for Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. It avails its help to individual people, communities and families who are into alcohol and drug abuse. Since its establishment OASAS has more than ten addiction treatment centers in New York State communities and have taken more than four thousand individuals on various skills. OASAS oversees addiction services systems nationwide and has more than 1, 600 treatments, and prevention and recovery programs. According to research, OASAS counselor assistance Program assists and an estimated 240, 000 yearly. Services that a person can get from OASAS Counselor assistance Program include accessible and cost effective quality services, improving lives through fostering treatment, promoting a productive and well-trained workforce, enables someone to meet people needs by use of their specialized services (New York, 2002). In addition, the OASAS counselor assistance program makes it possible for someone’s information is kept confidential since they observe the OASAS CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles. References American Psychological Association., American psychologist., & Minnesota. (2007). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) Canon of Ethical Principles. (n.d.). Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from https://www.oasas.ny.gov/sqa/credentialing/casac_canon.cfm New York (State). (2002). OASAS today: The newsletter of the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. Albany, N.Y: New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. Read More