Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam Practice Questions 2026 – Your Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

In the context of the duty to warn, this legal and ethical obligation primarily focuses on situations where there is a credible threat of harm to an identifiable person or persons. The duty to warn is often invoked when a client expresses specific intentions or plans to cause harm to themselves or others, depending on the immediacy and severity of the threat.

When a client reveals past conflicts without current threats, there is typically no imminent risk or specific intent to harm. This situation indicates that the client is reflecting on past experiences rather than expressing present intentions or planning to threaten another individual. The absence of a current threat means that there is no immediate danger to others, and thus the duty to warn does not apply.

By contrast, scenarios where a client discusses their intent to harm themselves, indicates potential harm towards a co-worker, or expresses a desire to harm a friend involve active threats that could lead to violence, making the duty to warn relevant. Each of these situations contains elements that suggest a risk to someone's safety, warranting intervention and reporting.