CODE OF ETHICS The Idaho board of Alcohol/Drug Counselor’s Certification, Inc. is comprised of professional alcoholism and drug abuse counselors who, as responsible health care professionals, believe in the dignity and worth of human beings. In the practice of their profession they assert that the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence and justice must guide their professional conduct. As professionals dedicated to the treatment of alcohol and drug dependent clients and their families, they believe that they can effectively treat individual and familial manifestations of chemical dependency. Alcoholism and drug abuse counselors dedicate themselves to promote the best interest of their society, of their clients, of their profession and of their colleagues. Specific Principles of Ethics Principle 1: Non-discrimination The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must not discriminate against clients or professionals based on race, religion, age, sex, handicaps, national ancestry, sexual orientation, or economic condition. Principle 2 Responsibility The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must espouse objectivity and integrity, and maintain the highest standards in the services the counselor offers. a. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, as teacher must recognize the counselor’s primary obligation to help others acquire knowledge and skill in dealing with the disease of chemical dependency. b. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, as practitioner, must accept the professional challenge and responsibility deriving from the counselor’s work. Principle 3 Competence The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must recognize that the profession is founded on national and state standards of competency which promote the best interests of society, of the client, of the counselor must recognize the need for ongoing education as a component of professional competency.Principle 3 (cont.) a. The alcoholism and drug counselor must prevent the practice of alcoholism and drug abuse counseling by unauthorized and unqualified persons. b. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor who is aware of unethical conductor or of unprofessional modes of practice must report such violations to the appropriate certifying authority. c. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must recognize boundaries and limitations of counselor’s competencies and not offer services or use techniques outside of these professional competencies. d. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must recognize the effect of professional impairment on professional performance and must be willing to seek appropriate treatment for oneself or for a colleague. The counselor must support peer assistance programs in this report. Principle 4: Legal Standards and Moral Standards The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must uphold the legal and accepted moral codes which pertain to professional conduct. a. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must not claim either directly or by implication, professional qualifications/affiliations that the counselor does not possess. b. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must not use the affiliation with the Idaho Board of Alcoholism/Drug Counselors Certification for purposes that are not consistent with the stated purposes of the Board. c. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must not associate with or permit the counselor’s name to be used in any connection with any services or productions in a way that is incorrect or misleading. d. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor associate with development or promotion of books or other products offered for commercial sale must be responsible for ensuring that such books or products are presented in a professional and factual way.Principle 5: Public Statements The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must respect the limits of present knowledge in public statements concerning alcoholism and other forms of drug addiction. a. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor who represents the field of alcoholism counseling to clients, other professionals, or to the general public must report fairly and accurately the appropriate information. b. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must acknowledge and document materials and techniques used. c. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor who conducts training in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling skills or techniques must indicate to the audience the requisite training/qualifications required to properly perform these skills and techniques. Principle 6: Publication Credit The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must assign credit to all who have contributed to the published material and for the work upon which the publication is based. a. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must recognize joint authorship, major contributions of a professional character, made by several persons to a common project. The author who has made the principle contribution to a publication must be identified as first listed. b. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must acknowledge in footnotes or an introductory statement minor contributions of a professional character, extensive clerical or similar assistance and other minor contributions. c. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must acknowledge, through specific citations, unpublished, as well as published material, that has directly influenced the research or writing. d. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor who compiles and edits for publications the contributions of others must list oneself as editor, along with the names of those others who have contributed.Principle 7: Client Welfare The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must respect the integrity and protect the welfare of the person or group with whom the counselor is working. a. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must define for self and others the nature and direction of loyalties and responsibilities and keep all parties concerned informed of these commitments. b. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, in the presence of professional conflict must be concerned primarily with the welfare of the client. c. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor must terminate a counseling or consulting relationship when it is reasonably clear to the counselor that the client is not benefiting from it. d. The alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, in referral cases, must assume the responsibility for the client’s welfare either by termination by mutual