CCIS Substance Use & Co-Occurring Disorders Flashcards

Co-occurring disorders (also called dual diagnosis) refer to:

Answer: The simultaneous presence of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder

Co-occurring disorders describe when an individual has both a diagnosable mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time, requiring integrated treatment approaches.

During a crisis, alcohol or drug intoxication most commonly:

Answer: Increases impulsivity and can worsen the severity of the crisis

Intoxication lowers inhibitions, impairs judgment, and increases impulsivity, all of which can escalate a mental health crisis and increase suicide risk.

The CAGE questionnaire screens for:

Answer: Problematic alcohol use

CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener) is a brief four-question screening tool used to identify potential alcohol use disorders.

A crisis specialist working with an intoxicated client should prioritize:

Answer: Ensuring physical safety and waiting for the client to become more coherent before deeper intervention

Physical safety is the immediate priority with an intoxicated individual, and meaningful crisis counseling is typically deferred until the client can engage more coherently.

Which term describes using substances to cope with symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma?

Answer: Self-medication

Self-medication refers to the use of alcohol or other substances to manage distressing emotional or psychiatric symptoms in the absence of professional treatment.

When a client in opioid withdrawal presents to a crisis line, the specialist should recognize that withdrawal:

Answer: Can be life-threatening and may require emergency medical referral

While opioid withdrawal is rarely fatal on its own, it can be severe and distressing, and complications may warrant medical evaluation; alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can be life-threatening.