MAC (NBCRNA) case studies
MAC · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The MAC (Master Addiction Counselor) is a national advanced-practice credential for addiction counselors, administered by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. It is intended for experienced clinicians - typically those already licensed or certified at a state level - who want a portable, nationally recognized demonstration of mastery in addiction counseling. Candidates should treat the credential as an advanced step, not an entry point: the exam assumes working command of assessment and diagnosis, treatment planning and counseling practice, ethics and legal requirements, clinical supervision and practice management, and co-occurring disorders and special populations. Because the official MAC specification page could not be retrieved when this page was prepared, no verified item count, time limit, passing score, fee, eligibility requirements, retake policy, or validity period can be published here; those fields are marked for review and should be confirmed directly with NAADAC before you register or schedule. The MAC case studies are 5 cases and about 2,869 words.
1Heavy Alcohol Use With Prior Withdrawal Seizure
L, 41, self-refers after an emergency department visit for palpitations. He reports drinking 12–16 standard drinks daily for 8 months; his last drink was 18 hours ago.
608 words, about 3 min2Pregnant Client With Fentanyl Use and Overdose History
R, 29, is 24 weeks pregnant and presents to an outpatient SUD program with daily illicit fentanyl use, about 1 g per day. She has had two prior overdoses, one reversed with naloxone.
573 words, about 3 min3Subpoena for SUD Records in a Custody Case
A counselor at a licensed outpatient SUD program receives a subpoena duces tecum for the complete record of Mr. T, a 37-year-old client treated for alcohol use disorder and depression.
570 words, about 3 min4Overloaded Supervisee, Boundary Blur, and Audit Risk
A clinical supervisor oversees six counselors at a nonprofit SUD agency. One supervisee, J, has been licensed for 10 months and carries 38 active cases; the agency standard is 25.
555 words, about 3 min5Older Veteran With PTSD, Alcohol Use, and Polypharmacy
K, 63, a veteran, is referred by his VA primary care team for alcohol use (8–10 beers nightly) and worsening PTSD symptoms since retirement. He has chronic low back pain and takes prescribed oxycodone and alprazolam; his last refill was 10 days early.
563 words, about 3 min