CRSS Advocacy and Self-Determination 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CRSS working for an agency is asked by their supervisor to discourage peers from using harm reduction services. What is the most ethical response?
- Follow the supervisor's directive to protect job security
- Continue providing full information about harm reduction options while raising the concern through proper channels (Correct answer)
- Immediately resign from the position
- Tell peers harm reduction is ineffective
Correct answer: Continue providing full information about harm reduction options while raising the concern through proper channels
A CRSS has an ethical obligation to provide complete information to peers; concerns about agency policy should be raised formally, not resolved by withholding information.
Question 2: Which right is foundational to the recovery movement and distinguishes it from traditional treatment models?
- The right to be monitored continuously by professionals
- The right to self-direction and control over one's own recovery journey (Correct answer)
- The right to have all decisions made by licensed clinicians
- The right to permanent disability benefits
Correct answer: The right to self-direction and control over one's own recovery journey
The recovery movement is built on the right to self-direction, contrasting with paternalistic traditional treatment approaches.
Question 3: How should a CRSS handle a situation where a peer's cultural background influences their approach to recovery in a way that differs from mainstream models?
- Encourage the peer to adopt mainstream recovery approaches for better outcomes
- Honor and integrate the peer's cultural values into their individualized recovery plan (Correct answer)
- Refer the peer to a culturally specific program only
- Explain that evidence-based practices must take priority over cultural preferences
Correct answer: Honor and integrate the peer's cultural values into their individualized recovery plan
Cultural humility requires integrating the peer's values and cultural context into support, not overriding them with dominant-culture models.
Question 4: What does 'informed consent' require when a CRSS is advocating on behalf of a peer with a government agency?
- The CRSS's employer must approve the advocacy action
- The peer must have given explicit, voluntary consent for the CRSS to act on their behalf (Correct answer)
- A doctor must authorize the advocacy contact
- Consent is not required if the advocacy benefits the peer
Correct answer: The peer must have given explicit, voluntary consent for the CRSS to act on their behalf
Informed consent is required before a CRSS can represent or act on behalf of a peer with outside agencies, respecting the peer's autonomy.
Question 5: A CRSS wants to help peers combat stigma in their community. Which approach is most evidence-based for reducing public stigma?
- Awareness campaigns alone using facts and statistics
- Contact-based education involving direct interaction with people in recovery sharing their stories (Correct answer)
- Legal penalties for stigmatizing language
- Removing all mention of substance use disorders from public discourse
Correct answer: Contact-based education involving direct interaction with people in recovery sharing their stories
Research consistently shows that contact-based education, where the public interacts with people in recovery, is the most effective approach to reducing stigma.
Question 6: In a peer-run organization, how does shared governance reflect the principle of self-determination?
- It ensures professionals maintain control of key decisions
- It gives people in recovery meaningful decision-making power over the organization's direction (Correct answer)
- It reduces accountability by spreading responsibility too broadly
- It limits the organization's ability to access government funding
Correct answer: It gives people in recovery meaningful decision-making power over the organization's direction
Shared governance embeds self-determination at the organizational level by giving peers real authority in shaping the recovery community they belong to.
Question 7: A peer asks a CRSS to help them understand their rights under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. What is the most accurate summary of this law?
- It provides free treatment to all Americans with substance use disorders
- It requires that insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders be no more restrictive than coverage for medical or surgical conditions (Correct answer)
- It mandates that all employers provide recovery support services
- It establishes a national registry of certified peer specialists
Correct answer: It requires that insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders be no more restrictive than coverage for medical or surgical conditions
MHPAEA requires insurance plans to apply the same coverage limits and treatment criteria to behavioral health as to medical and surgical benefits.
CRSS Advocacy and Self-Determination 5
A CRSS working for an agency is asked by their supervisor to discourage peers from using harm reduction services.
What is the most ethical response?