SAC Substance Abuse Education 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the reward pathway activated by most addictive substances?
- Serotonin
- Dopamine (Correct answer)
- GABA
- Norepinephrine
Correct answer: Dopamine
Dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (mesolimbic pathway) is the central mechanism driving the reinforcing effects of addictive substances.
Question 2: A student tells a SAC counselor they drink alcohol only on weekends but consume 8+ drinks each time. This pattern is best described as:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Binge drinking (Correct answer)
- Moderate drinking
- Alcohol dependence
Correct answer: Binge drinking
Binge drinking is defined by NIAAA as consuming enough alcohol to raise blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or higher, typically 4+ drinks for women and 5+ drinks for men within about 2 hours.
Question 3: Which of the following is a DEPRESSANT of the central nervous system?
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
- Benzodiazepines (Correct answer)
- MDMA
Correct answer: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are CNS depressants that enhance the effect of GABA, slowing brain activity and reducing anxiety.
Question 4: The 'gateway drug' theory suggests that:
- All drug users start with marijuana
- Use of legal or less harmful substances may precede use of harder drugs (Correct answer)
- Alcohol is the most dangerous gateway drug
- Gateway drugs directly cause addiction to harder substances
Correct answer: Use of legal or less harmful substances may precede use of harder drugs
The gateway theory proposes a statistical correlation in which use of milder substances (like tobacco or alcohol) is associated with increased likelihood of later using harder drugs, though causation is debated.
Question 5: When educating students about opioids, a SAC counselor should emphasize that tolerance means:
- The body becomes immune to the drug's negative effects
- Higher doses are needed over time to achieve the same effect (Correct answer)
- The drug is no longer dangerous after extended use
- The user can stop taking the drug without withdrawal
Correct answer: Higher doses are needed over time to achieve the same effect
Tolerance develops when the brain adapts to repeated drug exposure, requiring increasingly larger doses to produce the original effect.
Question 6: Which federal legislation significantly shapes school-based substance abuse programs by requiring drug-free school zones?
- Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (Correct answer)
- No Child Left Behind Act
- Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Correct answer: Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act
The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funds programs to prevent drug and violence in and around schools.
Question 7: A student who uses marijuana daily to cope with anxiety is demonstrating which type of use pattern?
- Experimental use
- Social use
- Instrumental use (Correct answer)
- Recreational use
Correct answer: Instrumental use
Instrumental use involves taking a substance for a specific purpose or to manage a condition, such as using marijuana to self-medicate anxiety.
SAC Substance Abuse Education 2
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the reward pathway activated by most addictive substances?