iscuss the five ethical principles of addiction (autonomy, respect for persons, truth-telling, non-maleficence, and beneficence) that could arise in the treatment of clients with addictions.

Using the NAADAC Code of Ethics, apply how you would navigate through the ethical decisions of the treatment of the patient represented.  The NAADAC Code of Ethics can be found at https://www.naadac.org/code-of-ethics

Supplemental Info: 

Ethics for Addictions Professionals addresses issues in the study of the laws, ethics, confidentiality requirements, and codes of ethics in the addictions field.

Case Study:
Alexandria is a 46-year-old, separated, Caucasian female living in Los Angeles, CA with her four adult children ranging in age from 18-26. Allie (her preferred name) is being referred by her primary care physician for assessment and treatment for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and possible alcohol abuse.

Allie is self-employed in the entertainment industry as an actor, as well as the owner of a beauty product line and production company. The client has been separated from her well-known actor spouse for the past year after enduring several violent outbursts directed toward her by her husband. They separated after Allie discovered his extra-marital affairs, compulsive sexual behaviors, and illicit substance abuse. Both the client and her husband were raised in the Mormon church, deciding to leave the church 10 years ago. They were married in the Mormon Temple 27 years ago and served on high profile church committees.

Two of Allie’s children also work in the entertainment industry and are high profile figures. Allie travels with her children on many occasions for photo shoots. One of her children, John, experienced a traumatic brain injury due to a motorcycle wreck and requires special care. Allie has found herself short tempered with John and voiced blaming him for the injury due to his reckless driving. She has turned over his care to a in home full time nurse. Allie’s husband has abandoned the family and is living and working out of the country with his new girlfriend.

Alexandria’s symptoms of depression include; loss of interest in activities, disturbed sleep patterns, inability to concentrate and focus on her work, decreased personal hygiene care, and significant loss of weight. She states that she is becoming increasingly isolative and unable to attend social functions, “even for work.” She has begun drinking alcohol “socially” and has attempted to begin dating due to pressure from her friends. Allie’s children are upset with her recent behavior and have begun to “lecture her” on her changing ways. Her children have noticed her to be “hung over” on several occasions in the past three months, forgetting what she had done the night before. Being a woman of independent wealth, Allie is requesting to be evaluated in the privacy of her home and that records not be kept in her legal name. She states that since she is “paying privately, there should be no records connected to her insurance to track her treatment.” She has a psychiatrist who is treating her depression with medication and she is requesting that you do not interact with her psychiatrist at all. She wants you to have no interactions with anyone else about her treatment to include her doctors, psychiatrist, children or spouse. Additionally, she is asking to receive some of her therapy sessions via phone/Skype when she is traveling for work.

Alexandria’s goals are to “1. Sort out what to do about the marriage; 2. Feel better so she can get back to work; 3. Rid herself of the guilt and fear of her newly found lifestyle; 4. Repair her relationships with her children.”

Discuss the five ethical principles of addiction (autonomy, respect for persons, truth-telling, non-maleficence, and beneficence) that could arise in the treatment of clients with addictions.

Using the NAADAC Code of Ethics, apply how you would navigate through the ethical decisions of the treatment of the patient represented. The NAADAC Code of Ethics can be found at https://www.naadac.org/code-of-ethics

Identify and describe five potential ethical dilemmas in the case scenario utilizing the NAADAC Code of Ethics and discussing the specific code that needs to be addressed/clarified.

Specifically address how you, as an addictions professional, would address each of the five specific ethical dilemmas you choose, in accordance with the NAADAC Code of Ethics. Summarize why you would make that choice.