IC&RC ADC (IC&RC Addiction Professional Exams) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Screening versus assessment

Screening briefly identifies whether a person may have a substance use problem and needs further evaluation; assessment is a comprehensive process that establishes diagnosis, severity, and treatment needs.

DSM-5 SUD severity thresholds

In DSM-5, substance use disorder is diagnosed when at least 2 of 11 criteria occur within 12 months; 2–3 criteria indicate mild, 4–5 moderate, and 6 or more severe disorder.

ASAM six assessment dimensions

ASAM criteria assess withdrawal risk, biomedical conditions, psychiatric and cognitive conditions, readiness to change, relapse potential, and recovery environment to determine appropriate level of care.

CAGE screening threshold

CAGE has four yes/no questions about cutting down, annoyance, guilt, and eye-openers; a score of 2 or more is considered clinically significant and warrants further assessment.

AUDIT hazardous drinking cutoff

The 10-item AUDIT screens for hazardous and harmful alcohol use; scores of 8 or more generally indicate hazardous use, though some guidelines use lower cutoffs for women.

Stages of change model

The stages are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and sometimes relapse; interventions should match the client's current stage rather than assume readiness.

OARS motivational interviewing skills

OARS stands for open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries; these core skills help counselors engage clients and evoke change talk in motivational interviewing.

Life-threatening withdrawal risks

Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause seizures, delirium tremens, and death, requiring medical management; opioid withdrawal is very uncomfortable but rarely life-threatening.

Treatment plan core elements

A treatment plan typically includes problem statements, client-centered goals, measurable objectives, specific interventions, responsible persons, target dates, and methods for evaluating progress.

SMART objectives

SMART objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound; they translate broad treatment goals into concrete steps that can be monitored and revised.

ASAM level-of-care matching

ASAM placement uses the six dimensions to match clients to the least restrictive level of care that can safely address their needs, from outpatient to medically managed residential care.

42 CFR Part 2 consent

For most disclosures, 42 CFR Part 2 requires written client consent identifying the program, recipient, client, purpose, information to be disclosed, expiration, and right to revoke.

Warm handoff referral

A warm handoff connects the client directly to the referral provider through a live introduction or joint contact, reducing gaps and increasing the likelihood that referral attendance occurs.

Release of information elements

A valid release of information specifies the client, recipient, purpose, information covered, expiration date, and client signature, and it must comply with applicable federal and state law.

Continuing care planning

Continuing care planning identifies post-treatment supports, relapse prevention needs, and follow-up appointments before discharge, supporting transition to a less intensive level of care.

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Collaboration involves coordinated communication among medical, psychiatric, social service, and substance use providers, with client consent, to address needs that exceed a single counselor's scope.

Cognitive restructuring

Cognitive restructuring is a CBT technique that helps clients identify, challenge, and replace distorted thoughts, such as all-or-nothing thinking, that trigger cravings or substance use.

Motivational interviewing spirit

The MI spirit consists of partnership, acceptance, compassion, and evocation; it emphasizes collaboration rather than confrontation and draws motivation from the client rather than imposing it.

MI four processes

Motivational interviewing progresses through engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning; counselors use these processes flexibly to build alliance and strengthen commitment to change.

Contingency management

Contingency management provides tangible, verifiable rewards for objective evidence of abstinence or treatment attendance; it has strong support for stimulant use disorders.

Lapse versus relapse

A lapse is a single return to substance use, whereas relapse is a return to problematic use patterns; framing a lapse as a learning opportunity can reduce shame and prevent escalation.

Group stages

Common group stages are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning; counselors adjust leadership to address safety, conflict, cohesion, productivity, and termination.

Integrated co-occurring treatment

Integrated treatment addresses substance use and mental health disorders together in the same setting rather than requiring one disorder to be treated before the other.

Suicide risk crisis response

When suicide risk is present, counselors directly assess intent, plan, means, and protective factors, follow agency protocols, arrange emergency evaluation when needed, and document actions.

Informed consent content

Informed consent covers the nature of services, risks, benefits, alternatives, confidentiality limits, fees, and the right to withdraw; it is an ongoing process, not just a signature.

Confidentiality exceptions

Common limits to confidentiality include imminent danger to self or others, suspected child or elder abuse, court orders, and medical emergencies; specific duties vary by state law.

Dual relationship management

Counselors avoid dual relationships that could impair objectivity or exploit clients; when unavoidable, they document the situation, consult, set boundaries, and monitor for harm.

Scope of practice

Scope of practice defines the services a counselor is trained and legally authorized to provide; counselors refer clients when needs exceed their competence or licensure.

Mandated reporting

Mandated reporting laws require counselors to report suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or dependent adult abuse to designated authorities, often within a specified time frame.

Clinical documentation standards

Clinical records should be timely, objective, accurate, and sufficient to justify services; errors are corrected with dated addenda rather than alteration or deletion of original entries.

Boundary crossing versus violation

A boundary crossing is a minor, sometimes unavoidable deviation from usual professional practice that can be managed; a violation exploits or harms the client and is never acceptable.

Cultural competence in counseling

Cultural competence involves awareness of one's own biases, knowledge of clients' cultural contexts, and skills to adapt assessment and counseling to diverse backgrounds and identities.