May 17, 2008 

The Principles of Ethics are a model of standards of exemplary professional conduct. These Principles of the Code of Ethics for Certified Associate Addictions Professionals express the professionals' recognition of their responsibilities to the public, to service recipients, and to colleagues. They guide members in the performance of their professional responsibilities and express the basic tenets of ethical and professional conduct. The Principles call for commitment to honorable behavior, even at the sacrifice of personal advantage. These Principles should not be regarded as limitations or restrictions, but as goals for which CAAPs should constantly strive. They are guided by core values and competencies that have emerged with the development of the field.

CAAPs must not discriminate against their clients, the public or others based on race, religion, age, sex, national ancestry, sexual orientation, economic condition or disabilities, including but not limited to HIV/AIDS. CAAPs should broaden their understanding and acceptance of cultural and individual differences and in so doing provide services and information sensitive to those differences.

CAAPs shall provide competent professional services to all in keeping with the IAODAPCA standards. CAAPs will strive continually to improve personal competence and quality of service delivery and to exercise professional responsibility to the best of their ability. Competence is derived from a synthesis of education and experience. The maintenance of competence requires a commitment to learning and professional improvement that must continue throughout the professional's life. CAAPs should be diligent in executing responsibilities. Diligence imposes the responsibility to provide services carefully and promptly, to be thorough and to observe applicable, technical and ethical standards.

Due care requires CAAPs to plan and supervise adequately any professional activity for which they are responsible. CAAPs should recognize limitations and boundaries of competencies and not use techniques or offer services outside of their competencies. Each professional is responsible for assessing the adequacy of his or her own competence for the responsibility to be assumed.

When CAAPs are aware of unethical conduct or practice on the part of an agency or other professional, they have an ethical responsibility to report the conduct or practices to appropriate authorities.

To maintain and broaden public confidence, CAAPs should perform all professional responsibilities with the highest sense of integrity. Integrity can accommodate the inadvertent error and the honest difference of opinion. It cannot accommodate deceit or the lowering of principle. Personal gain and advantage should not compromise service and the public's trust. All information should be presented fairly and accurately. CAAPs should document and assign credit to all contributing sources used in published material or public statements. CAAPs should not misrepresent, either directly or by implication, their professional qualifications or affiliations. CAAPs should not be associated directly or indirectly with any services or products in a way that is misleading or incorrect. CAAPs should never knowingly make false statements to IAODAPCA or any other disciplinary authority.

Above all, CAAPs shall do no harm to service recipients. Practices shall be respectful and non-exploitive. Services should protect the recipient from harm and the professional and the profession from blame. Where there is evidence of child or other abuse, CAAPs shall report the evidence to their supervisor immediately. Where there is evidence of impairment in a colleague or a service recipient, CAAPs should be supportive of assistance or treatment. CAAPs should recognize the effect of impairment on professional performance and should be willing to seek appropriate treatment for themselves.

Confidential information acquired while providing services shall be safeguarded from disclosure, including but not limited to verbal disclosure, unsecured maintenance of records, or recording of an activity or presentations without appropriate releases.

According to their consciences, CAAPs should be proactive on public policy and legislative issues. The public welfare and the individual's right to services and personal wellness should guide the efforts of CAAPs who must adopt a personal and professional stance that promotes the well-being of all humankind.