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Pharmacology & 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 & Co-Occurring Disorders flashcards as text

  1. A client with PTSD and alcohol use disorder asks why their therapist recommended avoiding benzodiazepines for anxiety. What is the BEST explanation?

    Answer: Benzodiazepines carry high misuse potential and may worsen PTSD outcomes over time

    Benzodiazepines have high addiction liability and research suggests they may interfere with fear extinction, potentially worsening long-term PTSD outcomes.

  2. Which medication for alcohol use disorder requires the client to be abstinent from opioids for 7–10 days before initiation?

    Answer: Naltrexone (Vivitrol/ReVia)

    Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist; initiating it while opioids are present will precipitate acute withdrawal, so a washout period is required.

  3. Cannabis use disorder co-occurring with a psychotic disorder presents which UNIQUE clinical challenge?

    Answer: Cannabis use can precipitate or exacerbate psychotic symptoms, complicating diagnosis and treatment

    Cannabis, especially high-THC strains, can trigger or worsen psychotic symptoms and make it difficult to differentiate substance-induced from primary psychotic disorders.

  4. Methadone's extended half-life (24–36 hours) is clinically significant because it:

    Answer: Provides steady plasma levels that reduce peaks of euphoria and troughs of withdrawal

    Methadone's long half-life produces stable plasma concentrations, blunting euphoria from illicit opioids and preventing withdrawal between doses.

  5. A client taking an SSRI for depression begins using cocaine heavily. The counselor should be aware that cocaine's mechanism may DIRECTLY interact with the SSRI by:

    Answer: Blocking serotonin reuptake, potentially causing additive serotonin effects

    Cocaine blocks monoamine reuptake transporters including SERT; combined with an SSRI, this may produce excessive serotonergic stimulation and increase risk of serotonin syndrome.

  6. In treating co-occurring ADHD and stimulant use disorder, which approach is generally preferred?

    Answer: Use non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine or bupropion first

    Non-stimulant options such as atomoxetine (Strattera) or bupropion (Wellbutrin) are preferred initially to treat ADHD without introducing stimulants with misuse potential.

  7. Acamprosate (Campral) is thought to support alcohol abstinence primarily by:

    Answer: Modulating GABA and glutamate systems to reduce protracted withdrawal symptoms

    Acamprosate stabilizes the glutamate-GABA imbalance that persists after alcohol cessation, reducing the neurobiological distress that drives relapse.