Ethical Dilemmas Facing Substance Use Counselors During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Course Description: This course is based on material published in Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment and is available as an open-access article.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment settings experienced several abrupt changes, including decreased admissions, reduction in services, and modified requirements for medication for substance use disorder. While these changes were implemented to facilitate the maintenance of important treatment options, the ethical consequences of such changes remained unknown. The current study aimed to explore ethical issues related to COVID-19-related changes reported by counselors in SUD treatment facilities. From May to August 2020, we conducted 60 to 90-minute in-depth interviews with 18 front-line staff in 1 residential and 1 outpatient treatment program, exploring issues drawn from the ethical principles of the national organization representing SUD counselors. Counselors volunteered to participate via phone or email, and participation was confidential. Interviews were conducted via videoconferencing. Topics included day-to-day experiences of ethical dilemmas in the workplace, particularly during the COVID-19 era. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and checked for accuracy, and a trained team of analysts then coded transcripts using thematic analysis. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, SUD treatment programs quickly modified procedures to adhere to public health mandates while also continuing to offer care to clients. SUD counselors reported several ways their programs adapted new and creative procedures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. SUD counselors also identified several novel ethical dilemmas that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, often resulting from the counselor balancing the needs for responding to public health mandates with providing services to clients. There were several ways that COVID-19 related changes resulted in therapeutic challenges for some clients, and the SUD counselors highlighted ways that changes resulted in more flexible services for other clients. This study highlights the quick response to COVID-19 that occurred within SUD treatment. While these changes resulted in novel ethical dilemmas, they also offered more flexible and client-centered approaches to treatment.
This course on substance use disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. In addition, this course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced-level practitioners who wish to develop their knowledge of substance use disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course material includes a literature review of research. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal.
Authors: McCuistian, Fokuo, Dumoit Smith, Sorenson, Arnold
Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding substance use disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, a professional will:
- Recognize characteristics of substance use disorder treatment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Describe ethical dilemmas faced by substance use counselors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Identify positive changes induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of treating substance use disorder.
Citation: McCuistian, C., Fokuo, J. K., Dumoit Smith, J., Sorensen, J. L., & Arnold, E. A. (2023). Ethical Dilemmas Facing Substance Use Counselors During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Substance abuse: research and treatment, 17, 11782218231158338. https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218231158338
This course content is based on a publication that has been peer-reviewed, the scientific standard for evaluating academic work. All studies and scientifically derived evidence have limitations that should be considered. If you have any questions about the accuracy or limitations of the content, please contact us at
support@ce-classes.com and we will get back to you.
This Ce-Classes.com course is approved for CE credit by:
Line 2299,
Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[ID] => 1
[Name] => The American Psychological Association (APA)
[Description] => Ce-Classes.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
[Category] => National
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[1] => Array
(
[ID] => 2
[Name] => Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
[Description] => Ce-Classes.com, Provider #1142, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval Period: 1/5/2029
[Category] => National
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[2] => Array
(
[ID] => 3
[Name] => The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
[Description] => Ce-Classes.com has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6320. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Ce-Classes.com is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
[Category] => National
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[3] => Array
(
[ID] => 6
[Name] => California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
[Description] => The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[4] => Array
(
[ID] => 13
[Name] => California Board of Registered Nursing.
[Description] => CEP 15647 Expires 11/30/2026.
[Category] => Nursing
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[5] => Array
(
[ID] => 98
[Name] => California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP)
[Description] => Provider Number 231
[Category] => CAP
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[6] => Array
(
[ID] => 7
[Name] => California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)
[Description] => Provider Number OS-12-174-0627 Expires 6-2027
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[7] => Array
(
[ID] => 5
[Name] => Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
[Description] => Provider #852 BAP-Expires 3/31/2027
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[8] => Array
(
[ID] => 12
[Name] => Florida Board of Nursing
[Description] => (CE Provider #: 50-4896) Expires 10/31/2028 Do not send certificates to the Florida Board of Nursing. You must keep this certificate for 4 years.
[Category] => Nursing
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[9] => Array
(
[ID] => 24
[Name] => Florida Certification Board
[Description] =>
[Category] => National
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[10] => Array
(
[ID] => 63
[Name] => Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA)
[Description] => Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA) Provider number# 16-04-05-626
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[11] => Array
(
[ID] => 91
[Name] => Illinois
[Description] => - CE-Classes.com is a registered social work CE sponsor by the State of Illinois. License 159.001607 Expires 11/30/2027
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[12] => Array
(
[ID] => 10
[Name] => Massachusetts Authorization Number
[Description] =>
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[13] => Array
(
[ID] => 73
[Name] => New York Mental Health Practitioners Board
[Description] => CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0260.
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[14] => Array
(
[ID] => 72
[Name] => New York Psychology Board
[Description] => CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0211
[Category] => Psychologist
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[15] => Array
(
[ID] => 19
[Name] => New York Social Work Board
[Description] => - Ce-Classes.com is recognized by the New York State Education
Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of
continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0120.
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[16] => Array
(
[ID] => 11
[Name] => Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
[Description] => - Approval from a state licensing board for counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists is accepted by the OH CSWMFTB.
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[17] => Array
(
[ID] => 89
[Name] => Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure
[Description] => (LPCs, LMFTs and LBCs)
[Category] => National
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[18] => Array
(
[ID] => 90
[Name] => South Carolina
[Description] => - CE-Classes.com is approved by the S.C. Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapist, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists (#4696).
[Category] => Social
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[19] => Array
(
[ID] => 88
[Name] => Texas Board of Marriage & Family Therapists
[Description] => CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
[Category] => Nursing
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[20] => Array
(
[ID] => 9
[Name] => Texas Board of Professional Counselors -
[Description] => CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
[Category] => Professional Counselor
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
[21] => Array
(
[ID] => 8
[Name] => Texas Board of Social Work Examiners -
[Description] => CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
[Category] => Clinical Social Worker
[approvals_cat_id] => 2
)
)
- The American Psychological Association (APA) Ce-Classes.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Ce-Classes.com, Provider #1142, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval Period: 1/5/2029
Social workers participating in this course will receive 1 Clinical continuing education clock hours.- The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Ce-Classes.com has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6320. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Ce-Classes.com is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.
- California Board of Registered Nursing. CEP 15647 Expires 11/30/2026.
- California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) Provider Number 231
- California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-12-174-0627 Expires 6-2027
- Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider #852 BAP-Expires 3/31/2027
- Florida Board of Nursing (CE Provider #: 50-4896) Expires 10/31/2028 Do not send certificates to the Florida Board of Nursing. You must keep this certificate for 4 years.
- Florida Certification Board
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA) Provider number# 16-04-05-626
- Illinois – CE-Classes.com is a registered social work CE sponsor by the State of Illinois. License 159.001607 Expires 11/30/2027
- Massachusetts Authorization Number: 3012%2Fethical-dilemmas-facing-substance-use-counselors-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
- New York Mental Health Practitioners Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0260.
- New York Psychology Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0211
- New York Social Work Board – Ce-Classes.com is recognized by the New York State Education
Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of
continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0120.
- Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board – Approval from a state licensing board for counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists is accepted by the OH CSWMFTB.
- Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (LPCs, LMFTs and LBCs)
- South Carolina – CE-Classes.com is approved by the S.C. Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapist, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists (#4696).
- Texas Board of Marriage & Family Therapists CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
- Texas Board of Professional Counselors – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
- Texas Board of Social Work Examiners – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
