NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION FOR ADDICTION COUNSELORS

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NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION FOR ADDICTION
COUNSELORS
A Test Preparation Course Taken from the Handbook
for Candidates
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Handbook for candidates

• http//ptcny.com/PDF/NCC2005_6.pdfdownload the
  handbook for free
• www.naadac.orgthe test used for the LADAC is the
  NCAC I, managed by the National Association for
  Addiction Professionals

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CONTENT OF EXAMINATION

• Written examination composed of up to 250
  multiple choice, objective questions with a total
  testing time of four (4) hours.

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Exam will cover four areas and will be weighted
in approximately the following manner

• I. Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances
• II. Counseling Practice
• III. Theoretical Base of Counseling
• IV. Professional Issues

• 30
• 40
• 15
• 15

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Part I PHARMACOLOGY OF PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

• What do you need to know?
• The definition of pharmacology, and what its
  relationship is to addiction counseling
• The clinical signs, symptoms, and behaviors that
  may be indicative of psychoactive chemical use,
  abuse, and dependence
• The function of the nervous system and how
  psychoactive chemicals affect it.

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Relationship to Addiction Counseling

• Addiction Counseling incorporates the findings of
  the field of pharmacology with a prescribed
  method of treatment. It guides a person to, and
  through, a program of recovery from the use of
  the psychoactive chemicals or from the experience
  of living with a person who abuses psychoactive
  chemicals.

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Definitions of Pharmacology

• The study of actions and mechanisms of chemicals
  on living tissue
• The study of the effects of chemicals within a
  living system
• The branch of science that deals with the
  interaction of all chemicals that affect living
  organisms

You only need to focus on the psychoactive
chemicals!
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Psychoactive Pharmacopia

• Drugs that affect the mind and the mood, as well
  as other body systems.
• May be those that produce withdrawal symptoms

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Pharmacology Content Areas

• Chemical Interactions
• Physiological Effects
• Psychological Effects
• Terminology
• Treatment Applications
• Withdrawal Syndromes

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Chemical Interactions

• Results of more than one chemical taken at a time
• When one chemical potentiates the actions of
  another
• When one chemical is used to produce an effect
  opposite to another

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Physiological Effects

• The immediate (short term/acute) bio-chemical and
  physical effects (including behaviors)
• The chronic (long term) effects

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Psychological Effects

• How psychoactive chemicals affect and alter
  perception and judgment

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Terminology

• Chemical names of psychoactive substances
• Trade/Brand names
• Street names
• Categories of drugs

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Treatment Applications(Pharmacotherapy)

• Medications used for detoxification
• Medications used for stabilization and
  maintenance

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Withdrawal Syndromes

• The rebound effects of the psychoactive chemicals
  physiologically and psychologically

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Drug Classification

1. Alcohol a. Terminology b. Physiological
Effects c. Psychological Effects d. Withdrawal
Syndrome e. Drug Interactions f. Treatment
Applications 2. Depressants a. Terminology 1)
Anti-Anxiety (Minor Tranquilizers) 2)
Barbiturates 3) Sedative-Hypnotics
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Drug Classification

• 3. Psychotropics (Major Tranquilizers)
• b. Physiological Effects
• c. Psychological Effects
• d. Withdrawal Syndrome
• e. Drug Interactions
• f. Treatment Applications

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Drug Classification

• 4. Cocaine
• a. Terminology
• b. Physiological Effects
• c. Psychological Effects
• d. Withdrawal Syndrome
• e. Drug Interactions
• f. Treatment Applications

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Drug Classifications

• 5. Other Stimulants
• a. Terminology
• 1) Amphetamines
• 2) Nicotine
• 3) Caffeine
• b. Physiological Effects
• c. Psychological Effects
• d. Withdrawal Syndrome
• e. Drug Interactions
• f. Treatment Applications

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Drug Classification

• 5. Opiates
• a. Terminology
• 1) Natural Derivatives
• 2) Synthetics
• 3) Antagonists
• b. Physiological Effects
• c. Psychological Effects
• d. Withdrawal Syndrome
• e. Drug Interactions
• f. Treatment Applications

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Drug Classifications

• 6. Hallucinogens
• a. Terminology
• 1) Natural Derivatives
• 2) Synthetics
• 3) Antagonists
• b. Physiological Effects
• c. Psychological Effects
• d. Withdrawal Syndrome
• e. Drug Interactions
• f. Treatment Applications

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Drug Classification

• 7. Cannabinoids
• a. Terminology
• b. Physiological Effects
• c. Psychological Effects
• d. Withdrawal Syndrome
• e. Drug Interactions
• f. Treatment Applications
• 8. Other
• a. Inhalants
• b. Designer Drugs
• c. Steroids
• d. OTC Drugs

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The Addiction Process

• The Disease Model
• Tolerance Mechanisms
• Detoxification
• Stages of Addiction

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The Addiction Process

• The Recovery Process
• 1. Medical Stabilization
• 2. Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Applications
• 3. Unsafe Medication in Recovery
• 4. Safe Medication in Recovery
• 5. Dual Disorders