Substance Abuse & Addiction Flashcards

Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with the reward pathway and the reinforcing effects of addictive substances?

Answer: Dopamine

Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter in the mesolimbic reward pathway, and most addictive substances trigger a surge in dopamine, reinforcing drug-seeking behavior.

CAGE is a brief screening tool used to identify potential alcohol use disorder. What does the 'A' in CAGE stand for?

Answer: Annoyed by criticism of drinking

The CAGE questionnaire asks about: Cut down, Annoyed by criticism of drinking, Guilty feelings about drinking, and Eye-opener drinks in the morning.

Which medication is approved for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) of opioid use disorder and works as a partial opioid agonist?

Answer: Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist used in MAT for opioid use disorder; it reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms with a lower risk of misuse compared to full agonists.

In the context of substance use, 'enabling' behavior refers to:

Answer: Actions by others that inadvertently allow or encourage continued substance use

Enabling refers to well-intentioned behaviors by family members or others that protect the person with a substance use disorder from experiencing the natural consequences of their use, inadvertently allowing the problem to continue.

Which of the following is NOT one of SAMHSA's principles of recovery?

Answer: Total abstinence required

SAMHSA's recovery principles include hope, person-driven, holistic, non-linear, strengths-based, peer support, relational, and culturally based — total abstinence is not a required principle of recovery.

The 'kindling effect' in substance use refers to:

Answer: Increasing severity of withdrawal symptoms with repeated detoxification episodes

The kindling effect describes how repeated cycles of intoxication and withdrawal (particularly from alcohol and benzodiazepines) cause each subsequent withdrawal episode to become more severe and potentially dangerous.

Which approach involves building a detailed picture of a client's substance use patterns, triggers, and consequences to inform an individualized treatment plan?

Answer: Functional analysis

Functional analysis (or behavioral analysis) examines the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences of substance use to identify triggers and maintaining factors, directly informing individualized treatment planning.