CRS Substance Use Disorder Assessment & Treatment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which withdrawal syndrome is considered potentially life-threatening without medical supervision?
- Opioid withdrawal
- Stimulant withdrawal
- Cannabis withdrawal
- Alcohol withdrawal (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Alcohol withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal can progress to delirium tremens, seizures, and death, making it medically dangerous without supervision.
Question 2: The CAGE questionnaire is a brief screening tool with four questions. What does the 'A' in CAGE stand for?
- Anxiety about substance use
- Annoyance when criticized about drinking (Correct answer)
- Amount consumed daily
- Abstinence attempts
Correct answer: Annoyance when criticized about drinking
In CAGE, 'A' stands for 'Annoyed' — whether others have annoyed the person by criticizing their drinking.
Question 3: A recovery specialist is conducting an intake and notices a client has not been honest about drug use. The BEST response is to:
- Terminate the session immediately
- Confront the client directly and demand honesty
- Use open-ended questions and a non-judgmental tone to build rapport (Correct answer)
- Document the dishonesty and refer to another provider
Correct answer: Use open-ended questions and a non-judgmental tone to build rapport
Building a trusting, non-judgmental therapeutic alliance through open-ended questions encourages honest disclosure over time.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'tolerance' as a criterion for Substance Use Disorder?
- The body's immune response to a substance
- Needing more of a substance to achieve the same effect (Correct answer)
- An inability to stop using despite wanting to
- Experiencing withdrawal when the substance is stopped
Correct answer: Needing more of a substance to achieve the same effect
Tolerance is defined as requiring markedly increased amounts of a substance to achieve the desired effect or diminished effect with continued use of the same amount.
Question 5: Long-term residential treatment (therapeutic community) is most appropriate for individuals who:
- Have mild SUD and strong social support
- Require detoxification only
- Have severe SUD with limited social support and unstable living situations (Correct answer)
- Need outpatient counseling once weekly
Correct answer: Have severe SUD with limited social support and unstable living situations
Long-term residential treatment is designed for those with severe disorders who lack stable housing or social support and need an immersive recovery environment.
Question 6: Which federally approved medication is used for alcohol use disorder and works by causing aversive reactions when alcohol is consumed?
- Acamprosate
- Naltrexone
- Disulfiram (Correct answer)
- Gabapentin
Correct answer: Disulfiram
Disulfiram blocks aldehyde dehydrogenase, causing an unpleasant reaction (flushing, nausea, palpitations) when alcohol is ingested.
Question 7: In the context of SUD treatment, what is 'harm reduction'?
- Abstinence-only programming for substance users
- Strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use without requiring abstinence (Correct answer)
- A legal term for criminal penalties for drug possession
- Mandatory treatment ordered by the courts
Correct answer: Strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use without requiring abstinence
Harm reduction encompasses policies and programs that aim to reduce the negative health, social, and economic impacts of substance use without requiring abstinence.
CRS Substance Use Disorder Assessment & Treatment 3
Which withdrawal syndrome is considered potentially life-threatening without medical supervision?