Pharmacology and Substance Knowledge Flashcards
6 cards from real CAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Pharmacology and Substance Knowledge flashcards as text
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder is considered evidence-based because it:
Answer: Significantly reduces illicit opioid use, overdose deaths, and criminal activity while improving retention in treatment
MAT with buprenorphine or methadone is supported by extensive research showing reductions in overdose mortality, illicit use, and disease transmission, with improved social functioning.
Naltrexone (Vivitrol) for alcohol use disorder or opioid use disorder works by:
Answer: Blocking opioid receptors, reducing the pleasurable effects of alcohol and opioids
Naltrexone is a full opioid antagonist that blocks the euphoric effects of opioids and reduces alcohol craving by blocking endogenous opioid activity in the reward pathway.
Which schedule of the DEA Controlled Substances Act includes substances with the highest abuse potential and no accepted medical use?
Answer: Schedule I
Schedule I drugs (e.g., heroin, LSD, cannabis under federal law) are classified as having high abuse potential, no currently accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety even under medical supervision.
Which concept explains why people with addiction continue using substances despite severe negative consequences?
Answer: Allostatic dysregulation — the brain's reward set-point is permanently altered
Allostatic dysregulation describes how chronic substance use permanently shifts the brain's reward and stress systems, making abstinence feel profoundly uncomfortable and driving compulsive use.
A client on buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) asks why naloxone is included in the formulation. The counselor should explain that naloxone is added to:
Answer: Deter injection misuse — naloxone is absorbed sublingually but precipitates withdrawal if injected
Naloxone in Suboxone is poorly absorbed sublingually, so it has no effect taken as prescribed, but if injected it precipitates opioid withdrawal, deterring injection abuse.
Which statement about methamphetamine's neurological effects is accurate?
Answer: Methamphetamine causes lasting damage to dopaminergic neurons that can persist years after stopping use
Neuroimaging studies show that chronic methamphetamine use causes lasting reductions in dopamine transporter density and dopaminergic function that may persist for years after cessation.