Pharmacology and Co-Occurring Disorders Flashcards
7 cards from real CASAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pharmacology and Co-Occurring Disorders flashcards as text
A client with alcohol use disorder is also prescribed warfarin for a heart condition. The counselor should be aware that alcohol:
Answer: Chronic heavy use decreases warfarin efficacy; acute intoxication increases bleeding risk
Chronic heavy alcohol use induces CYP enzymes that increase warfarin metabolism (reducing efficacy), while acute intoxication inhibits these enzymes, increasing bleeding risk.
Which of the following best describes 'dual diagnosis' or 'co-occurring disorders'?
Answer: The simultaneous presence of a substance use disorder and at least one mental health disorder
Co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis) refers to the simultaneous presence of at least one substance use disorder and at least one mental health disorder in the same individual.
A client stabilized on methadone maintenance needs surgery requiring pain management. What is the most appropriate approach?
Answer: Continue methadone and add non-opioid analgesics or additional opioids as needed for acute pain
Methadone should be continued during surgery; additional analgesics — including opioids — can be used for acute pain management, as methadone alone may not provide adequate surgical analgesia.
Which statement about cannabis use and anxiety disorders is most accurate?
Answer: Short-term use may relieve anxiety, but chronic use is associated with increased anxiety and panic
While some individuals use cannabis to manage anxiety short-term, chronic use—especially high-THC products—is associated with increased anxiety, panic attacks, and worsening anxiety disorders.
A client is prescribed clonidine during opioid detoxification. What is the primary purpose of this medication?
Answer: To manage autonomic symptoms of opioid withdrawal such as sweating, anxiety, and elevated heart rate
Clonidine is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that reduces the noradrenergic hyperactivity responsible for autonomic symptoms during opioid withdrawal.
When treating a client with co-occurring opioid use disorder and chronic pain, the integrated treatment approach should prioritize:
Answer: Addressing both conditions simultaneously using a multimodal, individualized treatment plan
Integrated treatment that simultaneously addresses both chronic pain and opioid use disorder with a multimodal, individualized approach is the evidence-based standard of care.
A client with alcohol use disorder is started on naltrexone. The counselor should educate the client that naltrexone works primarily by:
Answer: Blocking opioid receptors, thereby reducing the euphoric reward and craving associated with alcohol
Naltrexone reduces alcohol's rewarding effects by blocking opioid receptors, since the brain's opioid system mediates much of the pleasurable effects of alcohol.