CDCA Pharmacology of Substances & Drug Effects 3

Question 1

Which medication is FDA-approved for alcohol use disorder and works by blocking opioid receptors involved in alcohol's reinforcing effects?

Accepted Answer

Naltrexone (Vivitrol/ReVia)

Answer

Disulfiram (Antabuse)

Answer

Methadone

Answer

Clonidine

Question 2

Disulfiram (Antabuse) is used to treat alcohol use disorder through which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Causing an aversive reaction when alcohol is consumed by blocking acetaldehyde metabolism

Answer

Reducing dopamine release in the reward pathway

Answer

Blocking opioid receptors to reduce cravings

Answer

Enhancing GABA activity to reduce anxiety

Question 3

Which drug category includes substances like PCP (phencyclidine) and ketamine, known for causing dissociative states and distorted perceptions of reality?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative anesthetics/hallucinogens

Answer

CNS depressants

Answer

Opioids

Answer

CNS stimulants

Question 4

The 'half-life' of a drug refers to:

Accepted Answer

The time required for the concentration of the drug in the body to decrease by 50%

Answer

The time it takes for the drug to produce its maximum effect

Answer

The dose of a drug that is lethal in 50% of test animals

Answer

How long withdrawal symptoms last after stopping the drug

Question 5

A client using inhalants (huffing) is at risk for which unique and potentially fatal consequence not typically associated with other substances?

Accepted Answer

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome due to cardiac arrhythmia

Answer

Hypertensive crisis

Answer

Serotonin syndrome

Answer

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Question 6

Which statement best describes 'polysubstance use' and its relevance to pharmacology in chemical dependency counseling?

Accepted Answer

Using multiple substances simultaneously increases overdose risk due to additive or synergistic CNS depression

Answer

It refers to using only one substance but in multiple ways (snorting, injecting, smoking)

Answer

Polysubstance use always produces cross-tolerance to all drug classes

Answer

It only occurs in individuals who have already failed treatment once

Question 7

Cannabis (THC) produces its primary psychoactive effects by binding to which receptors in the brain?

Accepted Answer

CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the brain and CB2 receptors in the peripheral tissue

Answer

Mu-opioid receptors in the brainstem

Answer

GABA-A receptors in the cerebellum

Answer

D2 dopamine receptors in the prefrontal cortex