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Ethical Dilemmas In Substance Abuse Counseling

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My assignment was to visit a community agency or clinic that offers substance abuse counseling and discuss my findings. Pro-Active Resources is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center located in Carmel, IN. The therapist, at Pro-Active Resources, have provided services to over 15,000 individuals and families since its inception in 1985. The focal point, of the agency, is outpatient treatment programs for alcohol and drug abuse. And, the primary population served is persons with mental and substance abuse disorders and active duty military personnel. After speaking with June, I realized addiction knows no stranger or border. Drug and alcohol addiction is becoming widespread right here in Indiana. Every day an alcoholic or drug addict dies on our streets. …show more content…

Therefore, the clinical staff, at Pro-Active Resources, can diagnose the level of care a person needs and will make referrals based on those needs such as: detoxification, half-way house and inpatient treatments. Referrals create an ethical dilemma with therapist because one always needs to put the client’s needs before your own. Therefore, therapist must be careful when referring a client as not confuse competence/scope with personal beliefs and values. Another ethical dilemma stems from dual relationships because counselors, who were once addicts, are now attending the same AA meetings as their clients. This ethical issue leads to the major legal concern in substance abuse counseling. There are many recovered addicts working as counselors who are certified but not licensed and are not bound by the same ethical standards as licensed counselors and are not subjected to sanctions stemming form ethical misconduct. Therefore, creating a ethical and legal imbalance between certified and licensed

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