CADC Alcohol and Drug Counselor Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances 3

Question 1

Which classification of drugs includes substances like heroin, morphine, and codeine?

Accepted Answer

Opioids

Answer

Heroin, morphine, and codeine are all opioids that act on opioid receptors (mu, kappa, and delta) in the brain and body.

Question 2

A client on buprenorphine maintenance therapy asks why they cannot get high if they use heroin on top of their medication. The best explanation is:

Accepted Answer

Buprenorphine has high opioid receptor affinity and acts as a partial agonist, blocking full agonist effects

Answer

Buprenorphine's high receptor affinity and partial agonist activity means it occupies opioid receptors and blocks the effects of additional full agonist opioids.

Question 3

Cross-tolerance between alcohol and benzodiazepines occurs because both substances:

Accepted Answer

Act on the same receptor complex (GABA-A)

Answer

Both alcohol and benzodiazepines enhance GABA-A receptor function, so tolerance developed to one substance reduces sensitivity to the other.

Question 4

Which route of administration produces the fastest onset of drug effects?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous injection

Answer

Intravenous injection delivers the drug directly into the bloodstream, bypassing all absorption barriers for the fastest onset.

Question 5

Tolerance to a drug most commonly develops because of:

Accepted Answer

Pharmacodynamic changes such as receptor downregulation and reduced sensitivity

Answer

Pharmacodynamic tolerance occurs when the nervous system adapts through receptor downregulation and decreased receptor sensitivity with repeated drug use.

Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam Practice Test

Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam Practice Test

CADC Alcohol and Drug Counselor Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances 3