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# CAADC EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026-
2027
## COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE TEST BANK
FOR IC&RC ADVANCED ALCOHOL AND DRUG
COUNSELOR (AADC) CERTIFICATION
# DOMAIN I: SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, AND ENGAGEMENT
### Section 1.1: Screening Instruments and Procedures
**Question 1**
A 32-year-old male presents for an initial appointment at a community outpatient
clinic. Which of the following BEST describes the primary purpose of the
screening process?
A) To develop a comprehensive treatment plan with specific goals and objectives
B) To determine the client's appropriateness and eligibility for admission to
services
C) To diagnose the client's specific substance use disorder
D) To establish a therapeutic alliance with the client's family members
**Answer: B**
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**Rationale:** Screening is the initial, brief process designed to determine
whether an individual is appropriate and eligible for admission to a specific
program or service. It identifies individuals who may have a substance use disorder
and require further comprehensive assessment. Screening is NOT intended to
develop treatment plans (that occurs after assessment), provide definitive
diagnosis, or engage family members (though rapport-building may begin during
screening). The screening process helps determine if the client meets program
criteria and whether a full assessment is warranted .
---
**Question 2**
The CAGE questionnaire is a brief screening tool for alcohol problems. The
acronym CAGE refers to which four questions?
A) Consumption, Abuse, Guilt, Evaluation
B) Control, Anger, Grief, Energy
C) Cutting down, Annoyance, Guilt, Eye-opener
D) Cravings, Anxiety, Goals, Expectations
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The CAGE questionnaire consists of four questions about: (1)
Cutting down - Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? (2)
Annoyance - Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? (3) Guilt -
Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking? (4) Eye-opener - Have you ever had
a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover? A
score of 2 or more positive responses is considered clinically significant and
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warrants further assessment. The CAGE is a widely used, brief screening
instrument, but it is not diagnostic and should be followed by a comprehensive
assessment .
---
**Question 3**
A counselor is administering the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
(AUDIT) to a client. A score of 12 out of 40 on the AUDIT would indicate:
A) Low-risk alcohol consumption
B) Likely harmful alcohol consumption requiring further assessment
C) Severe alcohol dependence requiring immediate inpatient referral
D) No alcohol-related concerns
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The AUDIT, developed by the World Health Organization, has a
scoring range of 0-40. A score of 8 or higher indicates likely hazardous or harmful
alcohol consumption and warrants further assessment. A score of 12 indicates a
moderate risk level that requires comprehensive evaluation to determine the
presence and severity of an alcohol use disorder. Scores of 20+ suggest possible
alcohol dependence and may warrant referral to specialized treatment. The AUDIT
is particularly valuable because it assesses consumption patterns, dependence
symptoms, and alcohol-related problems across the past 12 months .
---
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**Question 4**
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate screening instrument for
detecting potential substance use problems in adolescents?
A) The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST)
B) The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10)
C) The CRAFFT screening tool
D) The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI)
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The CRAFFT is specifically designed for adolescent substance use
screening. Its acronym stands for Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble - six
brief questions that assess substance-related risks and consequences in adolescents.
Unlike the MAST and DAST (developed primarily for adult populations), the
CRAFFT is developmentally appropriate, validated for adolescents aged 12-21,
and has strong sensitivity and specificity for identifying substance use disorders in
this population. The SASSI, while useful for adults, is more lengthy and may be
less appropriate for initial adolescent screening .
---
**Question 5**
During the screening process, a critical task for the counselor is to:
A) Complete a comprehensive mental status examination
# CAADC EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026-
2027
## COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE TEST BANK
FOR IC&RC ADVANCED ALCOHOL AND DRUG
COUNSELOR (AADC) CERTIFICATION
# DOMAIN I: SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, AND ENGAGEMENT
### Section 1.1: Screening Instruments and Procedures
**Question 1**
A 32-year-old male presents for an initial appointment at a community outpatient
clinic. Which of the following BEST describes the primary purpose of the
screening process?
A) To develop a comprehensive treatment plan with specific goals and objectives
B) To determine the client's appropriateness and eligibility for admission to
services
C) To diagnose the client's specific substance use disorder
D) To establish a therapeutic alliance with the client's family members
**Answer: B**
,2|Page
**Rationale:** Screening is the initial, brief process designed to determine
whether an individual is appropriate and eligible for admission to a specific
program or service. It identifies individuals who may have a substance use disorder
and require further comprehensive assessment. Screening is NOT intended to
develop treatment plans (that occurs after assessment), provide definitive
diagnosis, or engage family members (though rapport-building may begin during
screening). The screening process helps determine if the client meets program
criteria and whether a full assessment is warranted .
---
**Question 2**
The CAGE questionnaire is a brief screening tool for alcohol problems. The
acronym CAGE refers to which four questions?
A) Consumption, Abuse, Guilt, Evaluation
B) Control, Anger, Grief, Energy
C) Cutting down, Annoyance, Guilt, Eye-opener
D) Cravings, Anxiety, Goals, Expectations
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The CAGE questionnaire consists of four questions about: (1)
Cutting down - Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? (2)
Annoyance - Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? (3) Guilt -
Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking? (4) Eye-opener - Have you ever had
a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover? A
score of 2 or more positive responses is considered clinically significant and
,3|Page
warrants further assessment. The CAGE is a widely used, brief screening
instrument, but it is not diagnostic and should be followed by a comprehensive
assessment .
---
**Question 3**
A counselor is administering the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
(AUDIT) to a client. A score of 12 out of 40 on the AUDIT would indicate:
A) Low-risk alcohol consumption
B) Likely harmful alcohol consumption requiring further assessment
C) Severe alcohol dependence requiring immediate inpatient referral
D) No alcohol-related concerns
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The AUDIT, developed by the World Health Organization, has a
scoring range of 0-40. A score of 8 or higher indicates likely hazardous or harmful
alcohol consumption and warrants further assessment. A score of 12 indicates a
moderate risk level that requires comprehensive evaluation to determine the
presence and severity of an alcohol use disorder. Scores of 20+ suggest possible
alcohol dependence and may warrant referral to specialized treatment. The AUDIT
is particularly valuable because it assesses consumption patterns, dependence
symptoms, and alcohol-related problems across the past 12 months .
---
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**Question 4**
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate screening instrument for
detecting potential substance use problems in adolescents?
A) The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST)
B) The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10)
C) The CRAFFT screening tool
D) The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI)
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The CRAFFT is specifically designed for adolescent substance use
screening. Its acronym stands for Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble - six
brief questions that assess substance-related risks and consequences in adolescents.
Unlike the MAST and DAST (developed primarily for adult populations), the
CRAFFT is developmentally appropriate, validated for adolescents aged 12-21,
and has strong sensitivity and specificity for identifying substance use disorders in
this population. The SASSI, while useful for adults, is more lengthy and may be
less appropriate for initial adolescent screening .
---
**Question 5**
During the screening process, a critical task for the counselor is to:
A) Complete a comprehensive mental status examination
