to which all certified professionals in the addiction field must subscribe upon application for certification.

The cornerstone of the Code is the requirement that no one will be discriminated against or refused service on any prohibited basis, including gender, race, ethnicity, religion, language, national ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, socio-economic status, age, physical or mental disability -- including carrying of a communicable disease, political affiliation or country of birth.

Principle One -- Service Provision: provide clients with accurate and complete information regarding the extent, nature and limitations of any services available to them, and on their rights and obligations in accessing services; ensure that clients' best interests are paramount within professional relationships and advocate for this interest as circumstances require; demonstrate acceptance of clients as unique and valuable persons; provide a safe service environment that is free of all forms of abuse, including physical punishment or restraint, and psychological abuse; minimise the negative impact of their personal attitudes, beliefs, and needs on their professional relationships with clients; terminate professional service to clients when such services are no longer required, requested, or serves clients needs. Where interruption in service is anticipated due to a change in a service provider's circumstances, the counsellor will notify clients promptly and arrange the transfer, referral or continuation of services according to the client's needs and preferences; and be prepared to account for and explain their opinions, recommendations, and actions when asked to do so by a client or a supervisor.

Principle Two -- Professional Competence. The alcohol and other drug counsellor field must maintain a standard of professional practice as defined by BACB. Alcohol and other drug counsellors will: limit their practice to their demonstrated areas of professional competence and/or consistent with their service mandate. Clients whose needs are determined to fall outside this domain of competence will be referred to, or assisted in finding, appropriate professional service by the service provider; remain up-to-date in their professional knowledge and practice in the field of alcohol and other drug treatment. Those service providers in counselling positions will use only those therapeutic techniques having clearly demonstrated effectiveness; maintain a working knowledge of programme policies, legislation, programmes and issues affecting addictions services; represent their professional recommendations or opinions accurately in all communications, including client documentation, testimony, and public statements; make only prudent reasonable claims of efficacy regarding past or anticipated achievement with respect to clients treated, as consistent with the cultural context in which the services are delivered; recognise when their own personal problems and conflicts have the potential to interfere with professional effectiveness. If such personal problems occur, alcohol and drug counsellors will take reasonable care in determining whether professional activities should be limited, suspended, or terminated; act as role models for the responsible use of alcohol and other legal drugs and for personal health care in general; maintain up-to-date certification with the BACB; and exchange relevant information with the agency/professional to whom the referral is being made, in a manner consistent with confidentiality regulations and BACB recognised professional standards of care.

Principle Three -- Integrity. Alcohol and other drug counsellors will: refrain from engaging in intimate personal or sexual relations with current clients or their partners, or business relationships in which there is an implicit imbalance of power; not engage in sexual relationships with supervisors, employees/co-workers, volunteers, practicum students or former clients, that is, a former client of the counsellor. This restriction applies for five years after the client was finally discharged from treatment; not use their position of authority to coerce or harass clients, employees/co-workers, students, volunteers, research participants, colleagues or other clients. Counsellors also will not condone or ignore physical, verbal or psychological abuse, whether oral, written or behavioural, including sexual harassment; accurately present professional qualifications, education, skills and professional affiliations to BACB, to the public and to clients; and not be involved in or ignore conflicts of interest. They will distinguish between actions undertaken as private citizens and action undertaken in the course of their employment. Conflict of interest includes taking an action in an official capacity which generates a benefit to the counsellor as a private citizen; influence peddling; soliciting clients from one's employer for private practice purposes; and using information received from clients to acquire, directly or indirectly, an advantage or material benefit.