MC Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the DSM-5, Substance Use Disorder is diagnosed on a continuum of severity. A 'moderate' SUD requires how many diagnostic criteria to be met within a 12-month period?
- 1–2
- 2–3
- 4–5 (Correct answer)
- 6 or more
Correct answer: 4–5
DSM-5 specifies mild SUD (2–3 criteria), moderate SUD (4–5 criteria), and severe SUD (6 or more criteria).
Question 2: The Motivational Interviewing (MI) technique of 'rolling with resistance' means the counselor should:
- Confront the client directly about denial
- Avoid arguing and acknowledge the client's ambivalence (Correct answer)
- Terminate treatment until the client is ready
- Increase pressure to motivate change
Correct answer: Avoid arguing and acknowledge the client's ambivalence
Rolling with resistance involves reflecting rather than confronting, thereby reducing defensiveness and keeping the client engaged in the change process.
Question 3: Prochaska and DiClemente's Transtheoretical Model describes the stage in which a person is actively changing behavior and has been doing so for less than six months as:
- Contemplation
- Preparation
- Action (Correct answer)
- Maintenance
Correct answer: Action
The Action stage is characterized by active, observable behavioral changes that have been sustained for up to six months.
Question 4: Which pharmacotherapy is approved by the FDA for treating Alcohol Use Disorder by blocking opioid receptors to reduce the rewarding effects of alcohol?
- Methadone
- Naltrexone (Correct answer)
- Bupropion
- Disulfiram
Correct answer: Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that reduces alcohol cravings and the pleasurable effects of drinking by blocking mu-opioid receptors.
Question 5: A harm reduction approach to substance use counseling prioritizes:
- Complete and immediate abstinence as the only goal
- Reducing risks and negative consequences associated with use (Correct answer)
- Confronting clients about the moral failure of addiction
- Criminal justice consequences as a deterrent
Correct answer: Reducing risks and negative consequences associated with use
Harm reduction accepts that some clients may not achieve abstinence immediately and focuses on minimizing the health, social, and safety consequences of substance use.
Question 6: Co-occurring disorders (COD) refers to a client who has:
- Two different substance use disorders simultaneously
- A substance use disorder and at least one mental health disorder (Correct answer)
- A physical illness caused by substance use
- A family history of both alcoholism and depression
Correct answer: A substance use disorder and at least one mental health disorder
Co-occurring disorders (also called dual diagnosis) exist when a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder are both present in the same individual.
MC Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling 1
According to the DSM-5, Substance Use Disorder is diagnosed on a continuum of severity.
A 'moderate' SUD requires how many diagnostic criteria to be met within a 12-month period?