CDCA Pharmacology of Substances & Drug Effects 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following substances has the highest potential for a fatal overdose from respiratory depression during acute intoxication?
- Cannabis (THC)
- LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)
- Fentanyl (Correct answer)
- Psilocybin mushrooms
Correct answer: Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50-100 times more potent than morphine, making it highly associated with fatal respiratory depression even in small doses.
Question 2: The phenomenon where a person needs increasingly larger amounts of a substance to achieve the same effect is known as:
- Dependence
- Withdrawal
- Tolerance (Correct answer)
- Sensitization
Correct answer: Tolerance
Tolerance is the pharmacological adaptation requiring higher doses of a substance over time to achieve the same desired effect.
Question 3: Which withdrawal syndrome is considered medically most dangerous and potentially life-threatening?
- Cocaine withdrawal
- Marijuana withdrawal
- Alcohol withdrawal (Correct answer)
- Opioid withdrawal
Correct answer: Alcohol withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal is the most medically dangerous, with risk of seizures, delirium tremens, hyperthermia, and death if not medically managed.
Question 4: A client describes seeing vivid colors and geometric patterns and states that 'everything is breathing' several hours after taking a pill at a party. Which substance is most likely responsible?
- Oxycodone
- MDMA (Ecstasy) or LSD (Correct answer)
- Benzodiazepines
- Methamphetamine
Correct answer: MDMA (Ecstasy) or LSD
Visual hallucinations including geometric patterns, altered color perception, and distorted movement of objects are classic features of hallucinogen (LSD/MDMA) intoxication.
Question 5: Buprenorphine works effectively in opioid use disorder treatment because it is a:
- Full opioid agonist with no ceiling effect
- Partial opioid agonist with a ceiling effect on respiratory depression (Correct answer)
- Pure opioid antagonist with no agonist activity
- Benzodiazepine that reduces opioid cravings
Correct answer: Partial opioid agonist with a ceiling effect on respiratory depression
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, providing enough receptor activity to reduce cravings and withdrawal while having a ceiling effect that limits respiratory depression risk.
Question 6: Which of the following is a characteristic of cocaine intoxication?
- Bradycardia, hypotension, and sedation
- Tachycardia, hypertension, euphoria, and decreased appetite (Correct answer)
- Pinpoint pupils and respiratory depression
- Slurred speech and ataxia
Correct answer: Tachycardia, hypertension, euphoria, and decreased appetite
Cocaine intoxication produces sympathomimetic effects including tachycardia, hypertension, euphoria, and appetite suppression due to its stimulant properties.
Question 7: The term 'cross-tolerance' means that:
- A client dislikes the taste of their MAT medication
- Tolerance developed to one drug produces tolerance to other drugs in the same class (Correct answer)
- Two drugs interact to produce unexpected side effects
- A client refuses to take medication as prescribed
Correct answer: Tolerance developed to one drug produces tolerance to other drugs in the same class
Cross-tolerance occurs when tolerance to one substance (e.g., alcohol) confers tolerance to other drugs in the same pharmacological class (e.g., benzodiazepines).
CDCA Pharmacology of Substances & Drug Effects 2
Which of the following substances has the highest potential for a fatal overdose from respiratory depression during acute intoxication?