MAC key terms

A comprehensive evaluation that gathers biological, psychological, and social information about a client in order to describe the nature and severity of substance use and related problems and to guide treatment planning.

A standardized set of guidelines from the American Society of Addiction Medicine used to match a person's assessed needs with the appropriate type and intensity of substance use disorder treatment.

The diagnostic category describing problematic substance use, rated mild, moderate, or severe according to how many of eleven criteria the person meets within a twelve-month period.

A brief, standardized procedure used to identify clients who may have a substance use or mental health problem and need a fuller assessment; it does not by itself establish a diagnosis.

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, a ten-item World Health Organization questionnaire that screens for hazardous and harmful drinking and gives an indication of severity.

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: a public health approach that screens for substance use, offers short motivational conversations, and refers people with higher needs to specialized care.

A physical adaptation in which a person needs larger amounts of a substance, or smaller doses over shorter intervals, to produce the effect previously achieved with a smaller amount.

A cluster of physical and psychological symptoms that follows a reduction or stopping of prolonged heavy substance use, often driving continued use in order to relieve the discomfort.

A structured interview that rates problem severity across seven life areas, including medical, employment, alcohol, drug, legal, family, and psychiatric status, to guide treatment planning and outcome evaluation.

The presence of a substance use disorder together with one or more mental health disorders in the same person, which calls for integrated rather than separate or sequential treatment.

A model describing readiness for behavior change in stages: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance, used to tailor interventions to a client's current level of motivation.

A client-centered, directive counseling style that builds collaboration and draws out a person's own reasons for changing by exploring and strengthening the client's statements in favor of change.

The normal experience of holding two conflicting feelings about change at the same time, such as wanting to stop using a substance while also valuing the relief it provides.

Four core motivational interviewing skills, namely open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries, that counselors use to convey empathy and strengthen the working alliance.

A structured, goal-focused counseling approach that helps clients identify and change the thoughts and behaviors that maintain substance use and teaches coping skills for high-risk situations.

A set of coping strategies and lifestyle changes that helps a person recognize warning signs of returning to use and manage high-risk situations, lapses, and setbacks without abandoning recovery.

A behavioral intervention that provides tangible, agreed-upon rewards, such as vouchers or privileges, when a client produces objective evidence of abstinence or meets other specified treatment goals.

A structured counseling approach that encourages and prepares clients to engage in peer-support programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, focusing on attending meetings, getting a sponsor, and working the steps.

A public health approach that seeks to reduce the negative consequences of substance use, such as overdose, infection, or legal harm, without requiring abstinence as a precondition for receiving help.

A written, client-specific document stating the identified problems, goals, measurable objectives, services to be provided, and responsible providers, which is reviewed and updated as the client's needs change.

A specific, observable statement of what the client will do, under what conditions, and by what time, so that progress toward a treatment goal can be verified and documented.

The type and intensity of treatment a client is placed in, such as outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential, or medically managed withdrawal, chosen by matching assessed needs to placement criteria.

The use of medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone, combined with counseling, to reduce craving, prevent withdrawal, and lower the risk of overdose and return to illicit use.

Ongoing support and treatment after the initial phase of care, such as outpatient groups, recovery coaching, or mutual-help meetings, intended to sustain gains and prevent relapse over time.

A service that coordinates and links clients to needed medical, social, legal, housing, and recovery supports, monitors progress over time, and reduces barriers to accessing and staying in care.

A group of professionals from different disciplines, such as counseling, medicine, nursing, and social work, who share information and coordinate their efforts for the same client.

A direct, personal transfer of a client from one provider or program to another, arranged in real time with the client present, so that the connection to the next service is not lost.

The steps a counselor takes to confirm that a client actually connected with the recommended service, to address barriers that interfered, and to document the outcome of the referral.

The process of giving a client clear, understandable information about the nature, risks, benefits, and alternatives of services, and obtaining voluntary agreement before treatment begins or changes.

The ethical and legal obligation to protect client information from unauthorized disclosure, with limited exceptions defined by law or by a signed, specific written authorization.

Federal regulations that give records of substance use disorder treatment stronger protection than general health records, generally requiring specific written consent before most disclosures.

A legal obligation recognized in some jurisdictions to take reasonable protective steps, such as notifying an intended victim or law enforcement, when a client poses a serious threat of violence.

The legal requirement that counselors report suspected child or elder abuse or neglect, and certain imminent dangers, to designated authorities, even when the client does not consent.

Regular, structured oversight in which a more experienced clinician reviews the counselor's work, develops skills, and safeguards client welfare and ethical practice.

An ongoing process of self-reflection, openness, and learning in which the counselor recognizes the limits of their own cultural viewpoint and respects the client's identity, values, and community context.

An approach that assumes widespread trauma, emphasizes physical and emotional safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment, and avoids practices that may retraumatize clients.

A structured approach that gives clients' family members information about addiction, treatment, and recovery, and teaches communication and support skills intended to improve outcomes for everyone involved.

A short-acting medication that reverses opioid overdose by restoring breathing; clients, family members, and community members can be trained and equipped to administer it in an emergency.

A dated, timely written record of a service session describing the client's current status, the interventions provided, the client's response, and the plan for the next contact.

A written authorization, limited in time and specific as to recipient and content, signed by the client to permit a named person or agency to receive or share identified information.