Detox Medical Detox Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a COWS score used to assess in medical detox?
- Opioid withdrawal severity (Correct answer)
- Alcohol withdrawal severity
- Cocaine craving intensity
- Cannabis withdrawal risk
Correct answer: Opioid withdrawal severity
The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) measures 11 signs and symptoms to quantify opioid withdrawal severity.
Question 2: Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly corrected during alcohol medical detox?
- Low magnesium (hypomagnesemia) (Correct answer)
- High sodium (hypernatremia)
- High potassium (hyperkalemia)
- High calcium (hypercalcemia)
Correct answer: Low magnesium (hypomagnesemia)
Chronic alcohol use depletes magnesium, which is replenished during detox to reduce seizure risk and support cardiac function.
Question 3: What is the purpose of administering thiamine (vitamin B1) in alcohol detox?
- To prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy (Correct answer)
- To reduce opioid cravings
- To lower blood pressure
- To improve sleep quality
Correct answer: To prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy
Thiamine deficiency in alcoholics can cause Wernicke's encephalopathy (brain damage), so IV/IM thiamine is given prophylactically during detox.
Question 4: In the US, which federal law regulates the prescription of buprenorphine for opioid detox in office-based settings?
- DATA 2000 (Drug Addiction Treatment Act) (Correct answer)
- Controlled Substances Act of 1970
- Affordable Care Act
- HIPAA
Correct answer: DATA 2000 (Drug Addiction Treatment Act)
The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) allowed qualified physicians to prescribe Schedule III-V medications like buprenorphine in office settings.
Question 5: What does 'medically managed intensive inpatient' mean in the ASAM level of care model for detox?
- Level 4: 24-hour nursing and physician care in a hospital setting (Correct answer)
- Level 1: Outpatient check-ins once per week
- Level 2: Intensive outpatient with daily visits
- Level 3: Residential without medical supervision
Correct answer: Level 4: 24-hour nursing and physician care in a hospital setting
ASAM Level 4 (medically managed intensive inpatient) requires round-the-clock physician and nursing coverage, used for high-risk detox patients.
Question 6: Which medication is used to manage symptoms like sweating, rapid heart rate, and anxiety during opioid withdrawal?
- Clonidine (Correct answer)
- Naltrexone
- Methadone maintenance
- Fluoxetine
Correct answer: Clonidine
Clonidine is an alpha-2 agonist that reduces sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity during opioid withdrawal, easing autonomic symptoms.
Detox Medical Detox Protocols 2
What is a COWS score used to assess in medical detox?