3 Continuing Education Hours (CEHs)
Approved by the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA) for 3 Continuing Education Hours
Course Description
Addiction counselors frequently work with individuals and families affected by substance use disorders, mental health challenges, chronic medical conditions, and complex social determinants of health. Many of these clients face increased risks related to HIV exposure, bloodborne pathogens, infectious diseases, medical emergencies, and injury. Counselors must be prepared to provide accurate education, promote prevention, respond appropriately to emergencies, and maintain ethical and professional standards while serving vulnerable populations.
This comprehensive 3-hour training provides addiction counselors with foundational knowledge and practical skills related to HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, ethical responsibilities, and first aid response in behavioral health and community-based settings. Participants will explore the history and impact of HIV/AIDS, transmission pathways, testing and prevention strategies, stigma reduction, cultural humility, confidentiality requirements, and counselor responsibilities when working with individuals affected by HIV.
The course also provides an introduction to first aid principles relevant to addiction counseling environments. Participants will learn how to recognize and respond appropriately to common medical concerns and emergencies, including overdose situations, seizures, diabetic emergencies, allergic reactions, bleeding, burns, falls, choking incidents, heat-related illnesses, self-harm injuries, and other health-related crises that may occur in counseling, treatment, or community settings.
Special emphasis is placed on understanding the counselor's role, maintaining professional boundaries, applying universal precautions, protecting client confidentiality, documenting incidents appropriately, and responding to emergencies while remaining within scope of practice.
This training combines public health education, behavioral health best practices, and practical first aid awareness to strengthen counselor preparedness, improve client safety, reduce stigma, and promote ethical professional practice.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the history, progression, and current impact of HIV/AIDS within the United States and among substance-using populations.
- Identify HIV transmission routes, prevention strategies, testing options, and risk factors associated with substance use and high-risk behaviors.
- Explain the role of stigma, bias, cultural humility, and ethical communication when working with individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.
- Discuss confidentiality requirements, disclosure concerns, and professional responsibilities related to HIV/AIDS in behavioral health settings.
- Demonstrate understanding of universal precautions, bloodborne pathogen awareness, and infection prevention practices.
- Recognize common medical emergencies and identify appropriate responses within the counselor's scope of practice.
- Identify warning signs associated with overdose, seizures, diabetic emergencies, allergic reactions, heat-related illness, choking, bleeding, burns, and other first aid situations.
- Explain the purpose of naloxone and the counselor's role in overdose awareness and emergency response.
- Apply principles of professional documentation, incident reporting, ethical decision-making, and boundary maintenance following emergencies or medical incidents.
- Promote client safety, healthcare engagement, stigma reduction, and informed decision-making through accurate education and professional counseling practices.
Course Topics Include
HIV/AIDS Foundations
- History of HIV/AIDS
- HIV vs. AIDS
- Epidemiology and current trends
- HIV transmission and risk factors
- Injection drug use and HIV risk
- Sexual risk behaviors and substance use
- HIV testing and early detection
- Prevention strategies including PrEP and PEP
Ethics & Professional Practice
- Confidentiality and disclosure
- HIPAA considerations
- Counselor ethics and professional boundaries
- Cultural humility and stigma reduction
- Trauma-informed approaches
- Person-centered communication
First Aid & Emergency Response
- Universal precautions and bloodborne pathogens
- Recognizing medical emergencies
- Overdose awareness and naloxone education
- Seizures and diabetic emergencies
- Shock and loss of consciousness
- Recovery position
- Minor cuts, bleeding, and burns
- Falls and head injuries
- Choking awareness
- Bug bites, bee stings, and allergic reactions
- Heat exhaustion and dehydration
- Self-harm injury response
- Managing emergencies involving confused, agitated, or dysregulated individuals
Documentation & Liability Protection
- Incident reports
- Objective documentation practices
- Ethical recordkeeping
- Post-incident procedures
- Counselor self-care following critical incidents
Target Audience
This course is designed for:
- Addiction Counselors
- Clinical Supervisors
- Peer Recovery Specialists
- Behavioral Health Professionals
- Case Managers
- Substance Abuse Treatment Staff
- Recovery Support Professionals
- Students and Interns in Behavioral Health Fields
Continuing Education Approval
This course has been approved by the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA) for 3 Continuing Education Hours (CEHs).
Participants must complete all course modules and successfully complete any required assessments in order to receive a certificate of completion and continuing education credit.
Delivery Method
Asynchronous Online Training
Participants may complete the course at their own pace through the online learning platform. The course includes narrated presentations, educational content, practical scenarios, and a final assessment to evaluate knowledge acquisition and learning outcomes.