Chemical Dependency Counselor License MCQ Flashcards

Which federal regulation specifically governs the confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records beyond standard HIPAA protections?

Answer: 42 CFR Part 2

42 CFR Part 2 provides heightened confidentiality protections specifically for records from federally assisted substance use disorder programs.

In group therapy for substance use disorders, the therapeutic factor of universality refers to:

Answer: Members discovering their struggles are shared by others

Universality, identified by Yalom, is the curative factor in which group members realize they are not alone in their struggles.

A client reports using heroin daily and wants to stop. The MOST appropriate immediate clinical action is:

Answer: Conduct a medical withdrawal assessment and facilitate medical detox

Opioid withdrawal can be medically serious; a clinical assessment followed by medically supervised detox is the priority before other treatment.

Which approach is the foundation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for substance use disorders?

Answer: Identifying and restructuring maladaptive thoughts that trigger use

CBT for SUD focuses on identifying cognitive distortions and high-risk thoughts, then replacing them with adaptive coping strategies.

When a client presents with co-occurring substance use disorder and PTSD, best practice indicates:

Answer: Address both disorders simultaneously with integrated treatment

SAMHSA recommends integrated, concurrent treatment for co-occurring disorders as the most effective approach.

A client in early recovery from alcohol use disorder reports insomnia. The counselor should FIRST:

Answer: Explore sleep hygiene practices and educate about normal post-acute withdrawal

Insomnia is common during post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS); sleep hygiene education and normalization should be the first intervention.

Which of the following best defines 'enabling' in the context of substance use disorder?

Answer: Behaviors that shield the person from the natural consequences of their use

Enabling refers to behaviors by family or others that protect the person from experiencing the negative consequences of their substance use, thereby allowing it to continue.