CAADC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CAADC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What self-care responsibilities does the CAADC have? → Ethical responsibility to monitor and maintain well-being to ensure competent care
2. In group dynamics, 'scapegoating' refers to: → A member being singled out and blamed for the group's problems
3. In Seeking Safety, a trauma-informed model for co-occurring PTSD and substance use, the primary treatment focus is on: → Establishing safety as the first and overriding goal of treatment
4. In treatment planning, the term 'baseline' refers to: → The client's initial level of functioning or symptom severity at the start of treatment.
5. Acamprosate (Campral) is used as MAT for alcohol use disorder. Its primary proposed mechanism of action is: → Modulating glutamate and GABA systems to reduce post-acute withdrawal symptoms
6. What is the purpose of including both short-term objectives and long-term goals? → Short-term objectives provide measurable stepping stones toward broader long-term goals
7. What is the main Purpose of case management in addiction counseling? → To coordinate services and resources for comprehensive care
8. A counselor employed at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) treating addiction must be aware that services there are primarily designed to serve: → Underserved and low-income populations
9. What is the primary purpose of the CAGE questionnaire in a clinical setting? → To provide a brief screening for potential alcohol problems.
10. Which ASAM dimension specifically evaluates a patient's readiness and interest in making changes related to their substance use? → Dimension 4: Readiness to Change
11. Which factor is MOST predictive of completed suicide in individuals with a substance use disorder? → Prior suicide attempt
12. Which term describes the process by which individuals from a minority group adopt the cultural norms of the dominant culture? → Acculturation
13. A core principle of Psychological First Aid (PFA) when responding to a client in an acute crisis is to: → Help meet basic needs and ensure immediate safety.
14. A client with co-occurring major depression and alcohol use disorder presents for treatment. The counselor's treatment plan goals should: → Integrate goals addressing both disorders simultaneously.
15. A Spanish-speaking client is unable to fully participate in treatment due to language barriers. The most appropriate action for the CAADC counselor is to: → Refer the client to a Spanish-speaking counselor or use a qualified medical interpreter
16. After a client's immediate crisis has been stabilized, what is the most crucial next step in the crisis management process? → Developing a follow-up plan and linking the client to appropriate resources.
17. A CAADC holder who allows their credential to lapse and wishes to reinstate it typically must: → Meet reinstatement requirements which may include CE verification and fees
18. Integrated Cognitive Affective Therapy (ICAT) for bulimia with co-occurring substance use differs from standard CBT primarily by emphasizing: → The interplay of emotions, cognitions, and urges across both conditions simultaneously
19. A client discloses that they plan to harm a specific coworker after leaving the session. Under the Tarasoff duty-to-warn principle, the counselor must: → Warn the intended victim and notify law enforcement
20. The 'abstinence violation effect' (AVE) describes a client's tendency to: → Feel guilt and loss of control after a lapse, increasing full relapse risk
21. Which evidence-based therapy focuses on changing maladaptive thinking patterns to influence behavior and emotional regulation? → Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
22. In which setting would a CAADC likely coordinate with other healthcare providers and community resources to support client recovery? → Community Health Organizations
23. In standardized SUD assessment, 'convergent validity' means that an instrument: → Correlates appropriately with other measures of the same construct
24. Which neurotransmitter is MOST directly associated with the reinforcing effects of nearly all drugs of abuse? → Dopamine
25. Which ethical principle requires a CAADC counselor to act in the client's best interest, even when it conflicts with the counselor's personal values? → Beneficence
26. When a CAADC transitions from an outpatient clinic to a correctional facility, which ethical challenge becomes most prominent? → Balancing client confidentiality with institutional security requirements
27. When working with LGBTQ+ clients in addiction treatment, research indicates that higher rates of substance use in this population are MOST closely linked to: → Minority stress resulting from stigma, discrimination, and marginalization
28. Informed consent in addiction counseling must include which of the following elements? → Explanation of confidentiality limits, treatment goals, and client rights
29. What approach uses a 'decisional balance' exercise to explore ambivalence? → Motivational Interviewing / Motivational Enhancement Therapy
30. Which ASAM level is specifically designed as 'partial hospitalization' and typically involves 20 or more hours of clinically intensive programming per week? → Level 2.5 Partial Hospitalization