Course Description

Ethics are generally regarded as guidelines for addiction professionals to follow, that governs conduct, and guides decision making. It is the obligation for all addiction professionals to protect the integrity of the profession and clinical practice. The addiction professional should always be aware of and adhere to an ethical code of conduct, that commonly being the one ascribed by the credentialing authority.

In this course, we will review ethical practices as related to boundaries, dual-relationships, working with families of persons in substance use disorder treatment, and the need for clinical supervision to assist the addiction professional with accountability and appropriate decision-making practices.

This course uses Ethical Code from NAADAC, The National Association for Addiction Professionals as the reference and standard for addiction professionals.

Objectives. Participants will

  • Explore dilemmas when personal and professional values intersect
  • Read about different relationships that may represent dual-relationships and the inherent problems therein
  • Review ethics code and the law
  • The need for clinical supervision
  • Ethical quandaries to consider when working with family member of persons in substance use disorder treatment.

REFERENCE: NAADAC Code of Ethics, 2016

This is an independent home-study course. Students will take the course according to their own timeline.

To receive the course completion certificate, each student is required to complete and submit Learning Contract, read all text-based materials, complete and submit chapter discussion questions, complete and pass course examination, and complete and submit course evaluation.

Note: Posted materials are free from SAMHSA and other public domain sites. 

Course fee applies for continuing education hours and a certificate of completion.

Senior Instructor

Diane Sherman, PhD

Dr. Diane Sherman, Ph.D., a substance abuse profession since 1975, beginning her career while serving in the U.S. Army for in the capacity of Behavioral Science Specialist.  She holds the national advanced credential of Master Addiction Counselor, Certified Clinical Supervisor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor-II, and E-Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Diane earned her Doctorate in Industrial / Organizational Psychology from Capella University in 2007. Since 2008 she has taught and supervised students who are in pursuit of the certified addiction counselor credential. She is a national, regional and state presenter offering topics relevant to addiction professional, clinical, and ethical practices and clinical supervision. In 2015 was honored to receive the Georgia School of Addiction Studies, Bruce Hoopes Pioneer Award in Addiction Treatment, a personally meaningful award, for excellence in the addiction profession.

Course curriculum

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