2025 AADC Exam Prep – 100% Updated Questions and Verified
Answers, 7th Edition
Instructions
This document contains 80 multiple-choice questions designed to prepare candidates for the
2025 Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Exam. Each question includes four
answer options, with the correct answer clearly marked and supported by a detailed rationale
based on addiction counseling principles, treatment models, and client assessment. Use these
questions to assess your knowledge and enhance your test-taking skills.
Practice Questions
Question 1:
Which of the following best describes the primary goal of motivational interviewing in ad-
diction counseling?
(A) To confront the client about their denial and force behavior change
(B) To enhance the client’s intrinsic motivation to change by exploring ambivalence
(C) To provide direct advice and solutions to the client’s substance use
(D) To teach the client coping skills for immediate relapse prevention
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered approach that aims to enhance intrinsic
motivation by exploring and resolving ambivalence about change. It avoids confrontation,
emphasizes collaboration, and supports the client’s autonomy, making option B the correct
choice. Confrontation (A) is inconsistent with MI principles, direct advice (C) is more aligned
with directive counseling, and coping skills training (D) is a separate intervention.
Question 2:
A client with opioid use disorder is prescribed buprenorphine. What is the primary phar-
macological action of this medication?
(A) Full opioid agonist that activates opioid receptors
(B) Partial opioid agonist that reduces withdrawal and cravings
(C) Opioid antagonist that blocks opioid receptors
(D) Non-opioid analgesic that reduces pain perception
1
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it activates opioid receptors but with a
ceiling effect, reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings without producing the full eu-
phoria of full agonists like heroin. Option A describes full agonists (e.g., methadone), option
C describes antagonists (e.g., naloxone), and option D is unrelated to opioid treatment.
Question 3:
During an initial assessment, a client reports using alcohol to cope with anxiety. Which
screening tool is most appropriate to evaluate their alcohol use severity?
(A) CAGE Questionnaire
(B) Beck Depression Inventory
(C) GAD-7
(D) MMPI-2
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The CAGE Questionnaire is a brief, validated screening tool specifically designed to iden-
tify problematic alcohol use. It consists of four questions assessing the need to cut down,
annoyance at criticism, guilt, and eye-opener drinks. The Beck Depression Inventory (B)
assesses depression, GAD-7 (C) measures anxiety, and MMPI-2 (D) is a broad personality
assessment, none of which are specific to alcohol use.
Question 4:
According to the ASAM Criteria, which dimension is primarily concerned with the client’s
recovery environment?
(A) Dimension 1: Acute Intoxication and/or Withdrawal Potential
(B) Dimension 4: Readiness to Change
(C) Dimension 5: Relapse, Continued Use, or Continued Problem Potential
(D) Dimension 6: Recovery/Living Environment
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
The ASAM Criteria include six dimensions for assessing treatment needs. Dimension 6 fo-
cuses on the client’s recovery/living environment, including social supports, housing, and ex-
ternal influences that may impact recovery. Dimension 1 (A) addresses intoxication/withdrawal,
Dimension 4 (B) evaluates motivation, and Dimension 5 (C) focuses on relapse risk.
Question 5:
2
, A counselor is using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to address a client’s substance use.
Which technique is most aligned with CBT principles?
(A) Exploring childhood trauma to uncover addiction roots
(B) Identifying and challenging distorted thoughts about substance use
(C) Using free association to explore unconscious motives
(D) Encouraging complete abstinence without addressing thoughts
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
CBT focuses on identifying and modifying maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. Challeng-
ing distorted thoughts (e.g., “I need alcohol to relax”) is a core CBT technique. Exploring
childhood trauma (A) aligns with psychodynamic approaches, free association (C) is psy-
choanalytic, and encouraging abstinence alone (D) lacks the cognitive restructuring central
to CBT.
Question 6:
What is the primary ethical principle violated when a counselor discloses a client’s substance
use history to a family member without consent?
(A) Autonomy
(B) Beneficence
(C) Confidentiality
(D) Justice
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Confidentiality is the ethical principle that protects a client’s private information, requiring
consent for disclosure unless mandated by law or imminent harm. Disclosing without con-
sent violates this principle. Autonomy (A) involves client decision-making, beneficence (B)
promotes client welfare, and justice (D) ensures fairness, none of which directly apply here.
Question 7:
A client in early recovery reports intense cravings triggered by seeing alcohol ads. Which
relapse prevention strategy is most appropriate?
(A) Prescribing an antidepressant to reduce cravings
(B) Teaching urge surfing to manage cravings without acting on them
(C) Advising the client to confront the trigger directly
(D) Recommending immediate inpatient treatment
3
Answers, 7th Edition
Instructions
This document contains 80 multiple-choice questions designed to prepare candidates for the
2025 Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Exam. Each question includes four
answer options, with the correct answer clearly marked and supported by a detailed rationale
based on addiction counseling principles, treatment models, and client assessment. Use these
questions to assess your knowledge and enhance your test-taking skills.
Practice Questions
Question 1:
Which of the following best describes the primary goal of motivational interviewing in ad-
diction counseling?
(A) To confront the client about their denial and force behavior change
(B) To enhance the client’s intrinsic motivation to change by exploring ambivalence
(C) To provide direct advice and solutions to the client’s substance use
(D) To teach the client coping skills for immediate relapse prevention
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered approach that aims to enhance intrinsic
motivation by exploring and resolving ambivalence about change. It avoids confrontation,
emphasizes collaboration, and supports the client’s autonomy, making option B the correct
choice. Confrontation (A) is inconsistent with MI principles, direct advice (C) is more aligned
with directive counseling, and coping skills training (D) is a separate intervention.
Question 2:
A client with opioid use disorder is prescribed buprenorphine. What is the primary phar-
macological action of this medication?
(A) Full opioid agonist that activates opioid receptors
(B) Partial opioid agonist that reduces withdrawal and cravings
(C) Opioid antagonist that blocks opioid receptors
(D) Non-opioid analgesic that reduces pain perception
1
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it activates opioid receptors but with a
ceiling effect, reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings without producing the full eu-
phoria of full agonists like heroin. Option A describes full agonists (e.g., methadone), option
C describes antagonists (e.g., naloxone), and option D is unrelated to opioid treatment.
Question 3:
During an initial assessment, a client reports using alcohol to cope with anxiety. Which
screening tool is most appropriate to evaluate their alcohol use severity?
(A) CAGE Questionnaire
(B) Beck Depression Inventory
(C) GAD-7
(D) MMPI-2
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The CAGE Questionnaire is a brief, validated screening tool specifically designed to iden-
tify problematic alcohol use. It consists of four questions assessing the need to cut down,
annoyance at criticism, guilt, and eye-opener drinks. The Beck Depression Inventory (B)
assesses depression, GAD-7 (C) measures anxiety, and MMPI-2 (D) is a broad personality
assessment, none of which are specific to alcohol use.
Question 4:
According to the ASAM Criteria, which dimension is primarily concerned with the client’s
recovery environment?
(A) Dimension 1: Acute Intoxication and/or Withdrawal Potential
(B) Dimension 4: Readiness to Change
(C) Dimension 5: Relapse, Continued Use, or Continued Problem Potential
(D) Dimension 6: Recovery/Living Environment
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
The ASAM Criteria include six dimensions for assessing treatment needs. Dimension 6 fo-
cuses on the client’s recovery/living environment, including social supports, housing, and ex-
ternal influences that may impact recovery. Dimension 1 (A) addresses intoxication/withdrawal,
Dimension 4 (B) evaluates motivation, and Dimension 5 (C) focuses on relapse risk.
Question 5:
2
, A counselor is using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to address a client’s substance use.
Which technique is most aligned with CBT principles?
(A) Exploring childhood trauma to uncover addiction roots
(B) Identifying and challenging distorted thoughts about substance use
(C) Using free association to explore unconscious motives
(D) Encouraging complete abstinence without addressing thoughts
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
CBT focuses on identifying and modifying maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. Challeng-
ing distorted thoughts (e.g., “I need alcohol to relax”) is a core CBT technique. Exploring
childhood trauma (A) aligns with psychodynamic approaches, free association (C) is psy-
choanalytic, and encouraging abstinence alone (D) lacks the cognitive restructuring central
to CBT.
Question 6:
What is the primary ethical principle violated when a counselor discloses a client’s substance
use history to a family member without consent?
(A) Autonomy
(B) Beneficence
(C) Confidentiality
(D) Justice
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Confidentiality is the ethical principle that protects a client’s private information, requiring
consent for disclosure unless mandated by law or imminent harm. Disclosing without con-
sent violates this principle. Autonomy (A) involves client decision-making, beneficence (B)
promotes client welfare, and justice (D) ensures fairness, none of which directly apply here.
Question 7:
A client in early recovery reports intense cravings triggered by seeing alcohol ads. Which
relapse prevention strategy is most appropriate?
(A) Prescribing an antidepressant to reduce cravings
(B) Teaching urge surfing to manage cravings without acting on them
(C) Advising the client to confront the trigger directly
(D) Recommending immediate inpatient treatment
3
