CASAC - Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Professional Ethics and Regulations Questions and Answers

Question 1

A CASAC receives a subpoena from a client's attorney requesting all treatment records for a child custody case. The client has not provided written consent for this release. According to 42 CFR Part 2, what is the CASAC's most appropriate and immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Contact the attorney to explain that the records cannot be released without a specific court order or the client's written consent.

Answer

Federal regulation 42 CFR Part 2 provides strict confidentiality protections for substance use disorder treatment records. A subpoena alone is insufficient to compel disclosure. A CASAC must have either a specific court order that meets the regulation's requirements or a valid written consent from the client. The correct action is to refuse the request and inform the attorney of the legal requirements, thus protecting client confidentiality as mandated by federal law.

Question 2

A client who has made significant progress and is nearing the end of their treatment offers their CASAC a handmade piece of artwork, valued at approximately $200, as a token of gratitude. According to the CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles, what is the most ethical response?

Accepted Answer

Politely decline the gift, explaining the professional boundary against accepting gifts of significant value to avoid a potential dual relationship or exploitation.

Answer

The CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles requires counselors to avoid dual relationships and exploitation of clients. Accepting a gift of significant monetary value can blur professional boundaries and create a conflict of interest. The most ethical action is to politely decline, reinforcing the professional nature of the relationship while still acknowledging the client's gratitude. This protects both the client's welfare and the counselor's integrity.

Question 3

During a session, a client becomes agitated and discloses a specific, credible plan to seriously harm their former spouse later that day, including the location. In this situation, the CASAC's 'duty to protect' obligations under New York State law would most likely require which of the following actions?

Accepted Answer

Consult with a supervisor and take reasonable steps to notify law enforcement and the potential victim.

Answer

While confidentiality is paramount, there is an exception for the 'duty to protect' (also known as 'duty to warn' or Tarasoff rule) when a client poses a serious and imminent threat of harm to an identifiable third party. New York law mandates that mental health professionals take reasonable steps to protect the intended victim. This typically involves notifying law enforcement and the potential victim. Consulting a supervisor is a critical step in this process to ensure agency protocol and legal/ethical obligations are met.

Question 4

Which of the following is an essential requirement for maintaining accurate and timely client records, according to the CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles?

Accepted Answer

To ensure the appropriateness and continuity of services provided to the client.

Answer

The CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles states that counselors must "take reasonable steps to ensure that documentation in records is accurate, sufficient and timely thereby ensuring appropriateness and continuity of services provided to patients." While records do serve billing and legal functions, their primary clinical and ethical purpose is to support high-quality, continuous care for the client.

Question 5

A CASAC is working with a client who is also involved in a complex child welfare case. The client asks the CASAC for specific advice on how to navigate the family court system and what to say to the judge. The most ethically appropriate action for the CASAC is to:

Accepted Answer

Explain that providing legal advice is outside their scope of practice and refer the client to a qualified legal professional.

Answer

The CASAC Canon of Ethical Principles requires counselors to practice within their scope of training and competence. Providing legal advice is not within the scope of practice for a substance abuse counselor. Doing so would be unethical and could potentially harm the client's case. The correct action is to maintain professional boundaries and refer the client to an appropriate resource, such as an attorney or legal aid service.

CASAC - Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Practice Test

CASAC - Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Practice Test

CASAC - Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Professional Ethics and Regulations Questions and Answers