Addiction Recovery and Its Ethical Risks

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Table of Contents

Preventive Measures
Confidentiality Policy
References

Preventive Measures

Regarding the tendency towards the gradual increase in the number of addicted people, various rehabilitation programs, as well as diverse approaches to treating and assisting people in their recovery, acquire the top priority. Moreover, the work of recovered addiction professional workers as counselors in addiction treatment programs also became one of the disputable issues (Doukas & Cullen, 2010). The fact is that these specialists can strongly identify with addicted clients and understand their needs better (Doukas & Cullen, 2010). At the same time, there is a high risk of relapse preconditioned by the work with individuals who used the same substances and experience similar problems.

To minimize the legal and ethical risks of having recovered addiction professionals working in a particular program, the following measures can be recommended. First, in numerous cases, over-involvement with clients and over-involvement with work increases the risk of relapses (Doukas & Cullen, 2010). In such a way, it is critical to establish a certain distance between a counselor and an addicted individual. Moreover, a specific schedule with no overwork should be followed. Additionally, the ethical risks associated with the functioning of recovered addiction professionals can be minimized by the appropriate confidentiality policy and informed consent acquired both from counselors and patients who need recovery. It will help to reduce the probability of the emergence of ethical issues significantly and avoid misunderstandings. Finally, all recovered professionals should be cognizant regarding their sensitivity to discussed substances (Doukas & Cullen, 2010). The nature of the job presupposes the constant interaction with people who exhibit substance-using behavior. For this reason, they should be provided with additional psychological aid to ensure the preservation of their health and high levels of resistance to addictive behaviors.

Confidentiality Policy

The purpose of the given confidentiality policy is to guarantee that all workers of the project and its participants correctly realize the existing requirements to the disclosure of personal data and confidential information. Every person has the right to determine what sort of information about him/her can be collected and how it can be used. Additionally, in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the unauthorized disclosure of personal information is strongly prohibited (“The Privacy Act of 1974,” n.d.). Finally, the Data Protection Act of 1998 states that all personal paper-based and electronic data should be secured against unauthorized access, loss, or destruction (Sharp, 2013).

In accordance with these documents, all counselors participating in the program should preserve the confidentiality of patients and act respecting their right for privacy. Specialists should aspire to create trustful relations with clients by engaging in a respectful partnership aimed at the achievement of positive outcomes in the process of their interaction (ACA, 2014). At the same time, all counselors should request private information from clients; only it is beneficial to treatment and can directly impact outcomes (ACA, 2014). Pieces of data acquired in this way should be protected against all attempts to use it for different purposes. Specialists working in the project can disclose data only having the clients consent or in accordance with the existing legal and ethical justification (NASW, n.d). However, the confidentiality of data can be breached, or counselors might disclose the private data if it is demanded to protect a client, specialist, or other people from significant harm that can be done by concealing some critical information (ACA, 2014). Violations of the given policy will result in the investigation of every case and severe penalties introduced to ensure the preservation of confidentiality.

References

ACA. (2014). 2014 ACA code of ethics. Web.

Doukas, N., & Cullen, J. (2010). Recovered addicts working in the addiction field: Pitfalls to substance abuse relapse. Drugs: Education, prevention and policy, 17(3), 216–231.

NASW. (n.d.).Code of ethics. Web.

Sharp, T. (2013). Right to privacy: Constitutional rights & privacy laws. Web.

The Privacy Act of 1974. (n.d.). Web.

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