Treatment and Recovery Flashcards

Which of the following best describes addiction according to current medical understanding?

Answer: A chronic brain disease that affects reward, motivation, and memory systems

Modern medicine classifies addiction as a chronic brain disease with biological, psychological, and social components, not a moral failure.

What is 'medically supervised detoxification' and why is it sometimes necessary?

Answer: A supervised process of safely managing withdrawal from substances, often required because withdrawal can be medically dangerous

Medical detox is critical for substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines because withdrawal can cause seizures, delirium, or death without medical supervision.

Which of the following is a widely used medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder?

Answer: Methadone or buprenorphine

Methadone and buprenorphine are FDA-approved medications that reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms and are considered evidence-based treatment.

What is the purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and similar 12-step programs?

Answer: To offer peer support, accountability, and a structured recovery framework based on shared experience

AA and similar programs provide a community of people in recovery who support each other through a structured 12-step process of personal accountability and mutual aid.

What does 'relapse' mean in the context of substance use recovery?

Answer: A return to substance use after a period of abstinence or reduced use

Relapse is a return to substance use during or after recovery and is recognized as a common part of the chronic disease process, not a treatment failure.

Which type of behavioral therapy is most evidence-based for treating substance use disorders?

Answer: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and change thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to substance use and is strongly supported by research.