Master Addiction Counselor Exam MCQ Flashcards
7 cards from real MAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Master Addiction Counselor Exam MCQ flashcards as text
A client in early recovery reports strong cravings triggered by passing a bar where they used to drink. This is best described as:
Answer: Classical conditioning response
Environmental cues previously associated with substance use trigger cravings through classical (Pavlovian) conditioning.
Which motivational interviewing principle involves reflecting back amplified or exaggerated versions of a client's ambivalence to prompt reconsideration?
Answer: Amplified reflection
Amplified reflection exaggerates the client's statement to encourage them to argue the other side of their ambivalence.
Under HIPAA, a substance use disorder treatment program may disclose patient information without consent in which situation?
Answer: A medical emergency threatens the patient's life
HIPAA permits disclosure without consent in a bona fide medical emergency threatening the patient's life or the life of another.
The CAGE questionnaire screens for alcohol use disorder. What does the letter 'A' stand for?
Answer: Annoyed by criticism of drinking
The 'A' in CAGE stands for 'Annoyed'—whether others' criticism of the person's drinking has annoyed them.
Which neurotransmitter system is most directly implicated in the rewarding effects of opioids?
Answer: Mesolimbic dopamine system
Opioids stimulate dopamine release in the mesolimbic (reward) pathway, producing reinforcing euphoric effects.
A counselor discovers a client lied about their drug use history on intake forms. The most appropriate first response is to:
Answer: Explore the client's reasons for withholding information in individual session
Exploring the client's reasons non-judgmentally in individual session preserves the therapeutic alliance and addresses underlying shame or fear.
The concept of 'geographic cure' in addiction counseling refers to:
Answer: A client's belief that moving to a new location will solve their addiction
A geographic cure is a common rationalization where a person believes changing their environment will eliminate their substance use problems.