IC&RC Pharmacology & Psychoactive Substances — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which drug class is most associated with potentially life-threatening withdrawal that can include seizures and delirium tremens?
- Alcohol and other CNS depressants such as benzodiazepines (Correct answer)
- Cannabis
- Hallucinogens
- Caffeine
Correct answer: Alcohol and other CNS depressants such as benzodiazepines
Abrupt cessation of alcohol or benzodiazepines after heavy, prolonged use can cause seizures and delirium tremens, so medically supervised withdrawal is often needed.
Question 2: Which medication is an opioid antagonist used to block the effects of opioids and to reverse an overdose?
- Methadone
- Naloxone (Correct answer)
- Buprenorphine
- Disulfiram
Correct answer: Naloxone
Naloxone is a short-acting opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses respiratory depression in an opioid overdose. Methadone is a full agonist, buprenorphine is a partial agonist, and disulfiram is used for alcohol use disorder.
Question 3: A client needs progressively larger amounts of a substance to get the same effect. This is called:
- Withdrawal
- Cross-dependence
- Tolerance (Correct answer)
- Potentiation
Correct answer: Tolerance
Tolerance is a decreased response to a drug after repeated use, so higher doses are needed for the original effect.
Question 4: Which medication is FDA-approved to treat alcohol use disorder by causing an unpleasant reaction when alcohol is consumed?
- Naltrexone
- Acamprosate
- Buprenorphine
- Disulfiram (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Disulfiram
Disulfiram inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase, causing flushing, nausea, and palpitations when alcohol is ingested. Naltrexone and acamprosate reduce craving but do not cause an aversive reaction.
Question 5: Using two substances together so that the combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects is called:
- Synergism (potentiation) (Correct answer)
- Antagonism
- Habituation
- Detoxification
Correct answer: Synergism (potentiation)
Synergistic or potentiating effects are why combining alcohol with opioids or benzodiazepines is so dangerous for respiratory depression.
Question 6: Stimulant intoxication typically presents with which cluster of signs?
- Pinpoint pupils, sedation, slowed respiration
- Slurred speech, ataxia, lowered inhibitions
- Dilated pupils, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, agitation (Correct answer)
- Nystagmus, flashbacks, depersonalization only
Correct answer: Dilated pupils, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, agitation
Cocaine and amphetamines stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, producing mydriasis, tachycardia, hypertension, hyperalertness, and agitation.
