Last Updated on May 23, 2016 by Morris Green

The substance abuse counselor is a unique professional. Taking a front row seat to the impact of drug and alcohol abuse and dependency, they work closely with people in recovery. It’s a bumpy road fraught with emotions and sometimes the stuff of movies. Ethics and values weigh heavily on every move a counselor makes, and on a daily basis, the challenges they face can create or destroy.

How does a substance abuse counselor avoid becoming a harmful influence? A firm resolve to always make the best possible choices is a good start, but it’s hard to hold a steady course without a strong support system. Luckily, for substance abuse professionals in North Carolina, a code of ethics is in place.

Ethical Principles of Conduct in North Carolina

What exactly does a code of ethics do? It helps protect public health, safety, and welfare. It gives substance abuse professionals a guide to conducting themselves in the best possible professional manner. It establishes clear boundaries and helps eliminate problematic gray areas.

You can find the NC Ethical Principles of Conduct for the Substance Abuse Professional via a PDF from NCSAPPB.org. It’s broken into 12 sections, each of which is equally important to navigating the moral trials you may face on a daily basis.

Navigating Ethical Client Relationships

Client relationships often prove to be the most brutal of challenges. It’s the cornerstone of what you do. Every day, you work one-on-one and with groups of people who battle substance abuse and/or addiction. You see the ugliness of drug and alcohol abuse, and you take a front row seat to your clients’ lives. It’s natural to feel a range of emotions and to build relationships, but keeping it professional can be tough.

What boundaries must be firmly in place? Let’s start with the don’ts:

• Don’t get involved with a member of a client’s immediate family.
• Don’t nurture dual relationships that could impair your judgment or increase the risk of exploitation.
• Don’t become sexually active or come into sexual contact with a client.
• Don’t misuse the professional relationship you build for financial, or any other type of personal gain.

If you find yourself questioning whether an action or relationship is crossing one of these boundaries, chances are you’re close to entering a gray area. Be aware and seek the opinion of another substance abuse professional who upholds the same code of ethics.

What can you do to promote a healthy client relationship? For starters…

• Do be empathetic and encouraging.
• Do listen with the goal of helping professionally.
• Do be a support within the boundaries of professionalism.
• Do provide a safe, judgment-free attitude that welcomes and eases discomfort.
• Do know your personal and professional limits and stick to them no matter what.

As a substance abuse counselor, it’s your job to promote positive action and morally sound decisions. Client-counselor relationships should promote autonomy, stewardship, and competence. We are professionals entrusted with aiding those in need of help, and we should always do our utmost to remain ethical.