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Cheat sheet

CADC Cheat Sheet

Practice QuestionsStudy Guide

Scientific Principles

25%of exam

Brain EffectsRisk FactorsDrug ClassesWithdrawalCo-occurring

Screening + Assessment

20%of exam

InterviewingScreening ToolsTestingDSM CriteriaLevel Care

Treatment + Referral

30%of exam

RapportCrisisReferralTreatment PlanningRecovery Pathways

Ethics + Law

25%of exam

BoundariesScopeDocumentationConfidentialityClient 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

Science, assessment, treatment, ethics

25%20%30%25%

Intoxication vs Withdrawal

Intoxication

  • Acute drug effect
  • Current impairment
  • Overdose risk

Withdrawal

  • Stopping effect
  • Medical risk
  • Monitoring need

Using vs stopping

Addiction Science

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

Tolerance

  • Need more
  • Reduced effect
  • Adaptation

Dependence

  • Withdrawal risk
  • Body adapted
  • Not addiction

Dose vs adaptation

Risk + Protection

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

Substance Signals

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

Co-occurring

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

OARS

Open, affirm, reflect, summarize

OpenAffirmReflectSummarize

Screening vs Assessment

Screening

  • Brief filter
  • Risk flag
  • Next step

Assessment

  • Comprehensive picture
  • Needs formulation
  • Care planning

Flag before formulate

Assessment Picker

  1. First contact→Screening(Broad risk)
  2. Positive screen→Assessment(Full picture)
  3. Diagnostic question→DSM criteria
  4. Trauma history→ACE context
  5. Use severity→ASI profile
  6. Conflicting report→Collateral data
  7. Withdrawal risk→Medical referral
  8. Placement question→Level criteria

Interviewing

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

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

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

Safety, stabilize, assess, refer, document

SafetyStabilizeAssessReferDocument

MI vs Confrontation

MI

  • Evoke change
  • Honor autonomy
  • Reflect ambivalence

Confrontation

  • Argues change
  • Raises resistance
  • Counselor driven

Evoke beats argue

Treatment Picker

  1. Immediate danger→Crisis response
  2. Ambivalence→MI skills
  3. Poor linkage→Case management
  4. Medication need→MAT referral
  5. Group issue→Group process
  6. Trauma trigger→Trauma-informed care
  7. Stable progress→Discharge planning
  8. Goal drift→Plan update

Treatment Core

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

Referral

  • Need matched
  • Warm handoff
  • Follow-up

Abandonment

  • Care dropped
  • No transition
  • Client harmed

Link before leave

Referral + Care

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

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

Scope, consent, privacy, consult, document

ScopeConsentPrivacyConsultDocument

Ethics Picker

  1. Outside competence→Consult refer
  2. Info request→Check consent
  3. Boundary pull→Role clarity
  4. Record issue→Document facts
  5. Conflict interest→Disclose manage
  6. Client complaint→Grievance process

Exam Authority

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

Scope vs Supervision

Scope

  • Competence boundary
  • Role limit
  • Refer beyond

Supervision

  • Guidance source
  • Case review
  • Accountability

Know limits early

Minimum Standards

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

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

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. 1.Weights: 25 / 20 / 30 / 25
  2. 2.Domain III is largest
  3. 3.150 total questions
  4. 4.125 scored questions
  5. 5.25 unscored pretest
  6. 6.Three-hour administration
  7. 7.Passing score: 500 scaled
  8. 8.No guessing penalty
  9. 9.Board authorizes scheduling
  10. 10.Remote depends on board
  11. 11.Screen before assessment
  12. 12.Safety before rapport
  13. 13.Consult outside scope
  14. 14.Document clinical rationale

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

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