Discussion1

Introduction to NAADAC/ NCC AP Ethical Standards

Ethics are generally regarded as the standards that govern the conduct of a person. Smith and Hodges define ethics as a “human reflecting self-consciously on the act of being a moral being. This implies a process of self-reflection and awareness of how to behave as a moral being. Some definitions are dictated by law, individual belief systems, religion or a mixture of all three.

NAADAC recognizes that its members and certified counselors live and work in many diverse communities. NAADAC has established a set of ethical best-practices that apply to universal ethical deliberation. Further, NAADAC recognizes and encourages the notion that personal and professional ethics cannot be dealt with as separate domains. NAADAC members, addiction professionals and/or licensed/certified treatment providers (subsequently referred to as addiction professionals) recognize that the ability to do well is based on an underlying concern for the well-being of others. This concern emerges from recognition that we are all stakeholders in each other's lives - the well-being of each is intimately bound to the well-being of all; that when the happiness of some is purchased by the unhappiness of others, the stage is set for the misery of all. Addiction professionals must act in such a way that they would have no embarrassment if their behavior became a matter of public knowledge and would have no difficulty defending their actions before any competent authority.

The NAADAC/NC CAP Code of Ethics was written to govern the conduct of NAADAC's members and it is the accepted standard of conduct for addiction professionals certified by the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP). The code of ethics reflects ideals of NAADAC and its members, and is designed as a statement of the values of the profession and as a guide for making clinical decisions.

When an ethics complaint is filed with NAADAC or NCC AP, it is evaluated by consulting the NAADAC/NCC AP Code of Ethics.  This code is also utilized by state certification boards and educational institutions to evaluate the behavior of addiction professionals and to guide the certification process.

Updated NAADAC/NCC AP Code of Ethics

The NAADAC/NCC AP Code of Ethics, effective October 9, 2016, was updated to meet the needs of current addictions practice. It is a completely new document; built from the ground up with major enhancements and additions to the previous version. Standards were replaced with Principles and each Principle considered clinician, supervisor, and relevant others. It provides in-depth, clear guidance and direction to individual providers, service organizations, regulatory boards, educators and trainers, legislators, and other related parties.

.