CADC Alcohol and Drug Counselor Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances 5

Question 1

Acamprosate (Campral) is believed to help maintain alcohol abstinence by:

Accepted Answer

Restoring balance between GABA and glutamate systems disrupted by chronic alcohol use

Answer

Acamprosate modulates GABA and glutamate neurotransmission, reducing the hyperexcitability that drives protracted withdrawal and relapse risk.

Question 2

Inhalants produce their effects primarily through:

Accepted Answer

CNS depression by enhancing GABA activity and inhibiting NMDA receptors

Answer

Inhalants act similarly to alcohol and anesthetics by enhancing GABA activity and inhibiting NMDA glutamate receptors to produce CNS depression.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a Schedule II controlled substance?

Accepted Answer

Oxycodone

Answer

Oxycodone is a Schedule II substance, meaning it has high abuse potential but accepted medical use with severe restrictions.

Question 4

A client describes using PCP and experiencing feeling detached from their body and environment. This dissociative effect is due to PCP's action as a:

Accepted Answer

NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist

Answer

PCP blocks NMDA glutamate receptors, disrupting normal glutamatergic transmission and producing dissociative, anesthetic, and hallucinogenic effects.

Question 5

First-pass metabolism is clinically important because it means that drugs taken orally:

Accepted Answer

May have significantly reduced bioavailability due to liver metabolism before entering systemic circulation

Answer

First-pass metabolism occurs when orally ingested drugs are metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation, reducing their bioavailability.

Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam Practice Test

Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam Practice Test

CADC Alcohol and Drug Counselor Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances 5