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CADC Cheat Sheet

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Scientific Principles

  • 25% of exam
  • Brain Effects Risk Factors Drug Classes Withdrawal Co-occurring

Screening + Assessment

  • 20% of exam
  • Interviewing Screening Tools Testing DSM Criteria Level Care

Treatment + Referral

  • 30% of exam
  • Rapport Crisis Referral Treatment Planning Recovery Pathways

Ethics + Law

  • 25% of exam
  • Boundaries Scope Documentation Confidentiality Client Rights

Quick Facts

  • Exam IC&RC ADC
  • Search name CADC
  • Questions 150 total
  • Scored 125 scored
  • Pretest 25 unscored
  • Time 3 hours
  • Pass 500 scaled
  • Scale 200-800

Four Domains SC

  • Science, assessment, treatment, ethics
  • 25% 20% 30% 25%

Intoxication vs Withdrawal SC

Intoxication

  • Acute drug effect
  • Current impairment
  • Overdose risk

Withdrawal

  • Stopping effect
  • Medical risk
  • Monitoring need
  • Using vs stopping

Addiction Science SC

  • Disease model Chronic brain disorder
  • Reward pathway Reinforcement circuit
  • Tolerance Need more
  • Craving Urge to use
  • Cross-tolerance Similar drug adaptation
  • Progression Worsening pattern
  • Relapse Return to use

Tolerance vs Dependence SC

Tolerance

  • Need more
  • Reduced effect
  • Adaptation

Dependence

  • Withdrawal risk
  • Body adapted
  • Not addiction
  • Dose vs adaptation

Risk + Protection SC

  • Trauma Raises risk
  • Family history Genetic loading
  • Peers Social exposure
  • Poverty Stress burden
  • Support Protective buffer
  • Housing Recovery stability
  • Culture Meaning context

Substance Signals SC

  • Alcohol CNS depressant
  • Opioids Respiratory depression
  • Stimulants Activation
  • Cannabis Perception change
  • Sedatives Withdrawal danger
  • Hallucinogens Perceptual distortion
  • Overdose Life threat

Co-occurring SC

  • Depression Mood symptoms
  • Anxiety Fear arousal
  • PTSD Trauma sequelae
  • Psychosis Reality impairment
  • Cirrhosis Liver disease
  • Respiratory Breathing deficits
  • STIs Medical risk

OARS AS

  • Open, affirm, reflect, summarize
  • Open Affirm Reflect Summarize

Screening vs Assessment AS

Screening

  • Brief filter
  • Risk flag
  • Next step

Assessment

  • Comprehensive picture
  • Needs formulation
  • Care planning
  • Flag before formulate

Assessment Picker AS

  • First contact → Screening ( Broad risk )
  • Positive screen → Assessment ( Full picture )
  • Diagnostic question → DSM criteria
  • Trauma history → ACE context
  • Use severity → ASI profile
  • Conflicting report → Collateral data
  • Withdrawal risk → Medical referral
  • Placement question → Level criteria

Interviewing AS

  • OARS MI micro-skills
  • Open question Invites story
  • Affirmation Names strength
  • Reflection Checks meaning
  • Summary Links themes
  • Probing Clarifies detail
  • Silence Creates space

Screening Tools AS

  • ASI Severity profile
  • ACE Trauma exposure
  • SASSI SUD screening
  • DSM Diagnostic criteria
  • Drug testing Biological evidence
  • Collateral Outside information
  • BPS Whole-person history

Assessment Judgment AS

  • Immediate needs Act now
  • Ongoing needs Plan follow-up
  • Level care Match intensity
  • Withdrawal risk Medical concern
  • Suicide risk Safety priority
  • Readiness Change stage
  • Strengths Recovery assets

Crisis First TR

  • Safety, stabilize, assess, refer, document
  • Safety Stabilize Assess Refer Document

MI vs Confrontation TR

MI

  • Evoke change
  • Honor autonomy
  • Reflect ambivalence

Confrontation

  • Argues change
  • Raises resistance
  • Counselor driven
  • Evoke beats argue

Treatment Picker TR

  • Immediate danger → Crisis response
  • Ambivalence → MI skills
  • Poor linkage → Case management
  • Medication need → MAT referral
  • Group issue → Group process
  • Trauma trigger → Trauma-informed care
  • Stable progress → Discharge planning
  • Goal drift → Plan update

Treatment Core TR

  • Rapport Working alliance
  • Person-first Respectful language
  • Crisis Stabilize first
  • De-escalation Reduce arousal
  • Treatment plan Goals strategies
  • Coping skills Use alternatives
  • Relapse plan Prevent return

Referral vs Abandonment TR

Referral

  • Need matched
  • Warm handoff
  • Follow-up

Abandonment

  • Care dropped
  • No transition
  • Client harmed
  • Link before leave

Referral + Care TR

  • Referral Needed service
  • Case management Link resources
  • Follow-up Verify connection
  • Team Shared care
  • Family Client support
  • Discharge Transition plan
  • Termination End counseling

Recovery Pathways TR

  • MAT Medication pathway
  • Mutual help Peer support
  • Holistic Whole health
  • Groups Shared process
  • Trauma-informed Avoid retrauma
  • Special populations Tailored care
  • Feedback Reflection reframing

Ethics Ladder ET

  • Scope, consent, privacy, consult, document
  • Scope Consent Privacy Consult Document

Confidentiality vs Consent ET

Confidentiality

  • Protect privacy
  • Limit sharing
  • Secure records

Consent

  • Informed permission
  • Defined scope
  • Client choice
  • Permission has limits

Ethics Picker ET

  • Outside competence → Consult refer
  • Info request → Check consent
  • Boundary pull → Role clarity
  • Record issue → Document facts
  • Conflict interest → Disclose manage
  • Client complaint → Grievance process

Exam Authority ET

  • IC&RC Exam framework
  • ADC Official credential
  • CADC Common state term
  • Board Eligibility authority
  • Prometric Testing vendor
  • Remote Board dependent

Scope vs Supervision ET

Scope

  • Competence boundary
  • Role limit
  • Refer beyond

Supervision

  • Guidance source
  • Case review
  • Accountability
  • Know limits early

Minimum Standards ET

  • HS route 6000 work hours
  • Associate 5000 work hours
  • Bachelor 4000 work hours
  • Master 2000 work hours
  • Education 300 domain hours
  • Ethics 6 education hours
  • Renewal 40 CE hours

Ethical Practice ET

  • Boundaries Role limits
  • Self-awareness Monitor bias
  • Dual relationship Role conflict
  • Self-disclosure Client benefit
  • Scope Competence limit
  • Consultation Seek guidance
  • Supervision Oversight support

Legal Responsibility ET

  • Documentation Record care
  • Storage Protect records
  • Confidentiality Privacy duty
  • Consent Informed permission
  • Conflict interest Competing loyalty
  • Grievance Complaint process
  • Rights Client protections

Common Traps

ADC vs CADC

  • ADC official ≠ CADC common

IC&RC vs board

  • IC&RC exam ≠ Board eligibility

Pretest vs scored

  • 25 unscored ≠ 125 scored

Remote vs universal

  • Remote possible ≠ Board decides

Screening vs diagnosis

  • Screening flags ≠ DSM diagnoses

Self-report vs collateral

  • Self-report limited ≠ Collateral strengthens

Disclosure vs privacy

  • Consent scoped ≠ Privacy remains

Recovery vs one path

  • Multiple pathways ≠ Client centered

Last Minute

  • 1. Weights: 25 / 20 / 30 / 25
  • 2. Domain III is largest
  • 3. 150 total questions
  • 4. 125 scored questions
  • 5. 25 unscored pretest
  • 6. Three-hour administration
  • 7. Passing score: 500 scaled
  • 8. No guessing penalty
  • 9. Board authorizes scheduling
  • 10. Remote depends on board
  • 11. Screen before assessment
  • 12. Safety before rapport
  • 13. Consult outside scope
  • 14. Document clinical rationale

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

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