Chemical Dependency Counselor CCDC Exam Ethics & Confidentiality in Chemical Dependency Counseling 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal regulation specifically protects the confidentiality of substance use disorder treatment records?
- HIPAA
- 42 CFR Part 2 (Correct answer)
- FERPA
- ADA Title II
Correct answer: 42 CFR Part 2
42 CFR Part 2 provides stricter confidentiality protections for substance use disorder treatment records than general HIPAA provisions.
Question 2: Under 42 CFR Part 2, which of the following requires a specific written consent to disclose a client's substance use treatment information?
- Sharing records with any other treating physician (Correct answer)
- Internal quality improvement audits
- Emergency medical situations
- Reporting to state public health authorities for communicable diseases
Correct answer: Sharing records with any other treating physician
42 CFR Part 2 requires patient-specific written consent for disclosure to other treating physicians unless an exception (e.g., medical emergency) applies.
Question 3: The Tarasoff duty to warn requires a mental health professional to:
- Warn clients about the risks of all prescribed medications
- Take reasonable steps to protect identifiable third parties from serious threats of harm by a client (Correct answer)
- Notify insurance companies of a client's dangerous behavior
- Report all substance use to law enforcement
Correct answer: Take reasonable steps to protect identifiable third parties from serious threats of harm by a client
The Tarasoff ruling established that clinicians have a duty to protect identifiable intended victims when a client makes a credible threat of serious harm.
Question 4: Informed consent in chemical dependency counseling must include which of the following elements?
- A guarantee of successful treatment outcomes
- Information about treatment purpose, risks, benefits, alternatives, and limits of confidentiality (Correct answer)
- The counselor's personal recovery history
- Insurance billing codes for services rendered
Correct answer: Information about treatment purpose, risks, benefits, alternatives, and limits of confidentiality
Informed consent must cover treatment purpose, risks and benefits, alternatives, and confidentiality limits so clients can make autonomous treatment decisions.
Question 5: Which ethical principle requires a counselor to act in the client's best interest and avoid doing harm?
- Autonomy
- Justice
- Beneficence and non-maleficence (Correct answer)
- Fidelity
Correct answer: Beneficence and non-maleficence
Beneficence (do good) and non-maleficence (do no harm) together require counselors to promote client welfare and avoid actions that cause harm.
Question 6: A counselor who develops a romantic relationship with a current client is violating which ethical boundary?
- Scope of practice
- Dual relationship prohibition (Correct answer)
- Supervision requirements
- Documentation standards
Correct answer: Dual relationship prohibition
Romantic relationships with current clients constitute a prohibited dual relationship that exploits the power differential and harms the therapeutic relationship.
Chemical Dependency Counselor CCDC Exam Ethics & Confidentiality in Chemical Dependency Counseling 1
Which federal regulation specifically protects the confidentiality of substance use disorder treatment records?