DUI Substance Abuse Assessment and Intervention Flashcards

Which standardized screening tool is most commonly used by DUI instructors and counselors to assess alcohol use disorder?

Answer: AUDIT-C

The AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Consumption) is a widely validated brief screening tool used to identify hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption in DUI contexts.

What blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is the legal limit for operating a vehicle for non-commercial adult drivers in all US states?

Answer: 0.08%

All US states have established 0.08% BAC as the per se legal limit for adult non-commercial drivers, meaning driving at or above this level is automatically unlawful.

Which factor most significantly affects how quickly alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream?

Answer: Whether food is present in the stomach

Food in the stomach slows gastric emptying, which delays alcohol absorption into the small intestine and bloodstream, resulting in a lower and slower BAC rise.

What is the approximate rate at which the liver metabolizes alcohol in a typical adult?

Answer: 0.015% BAC per hour

On average, the liver metabolizes alcohol at a rate of approximately 0.015% BAC per hour, which is roughly equivalent to one standard drink per hour.

In the DSM-5, how many criteria must be met within a 12-month period to diagnose 'severe' Alcohol Use Disorder?

Answer: 6 or more criteria

The DSM-5 defines severe Alcohol Use Disorder as the presence of 6 or more of the 11 diagnostic criteria within a 12-month period.

Which term describes the physical state requiring increasing amounts of alcohol to achieve the same effect?

Answer: Tolerance

Tolerance is the neurological adaptation in which repeated alcohol use causes the brain to require higher doses to produce the same euphoric or sedative effect.