NU 578 Unit 2 Codeine / Controlled Substances /
Psychopharmacology | Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale | New Update 2026-2027 | Graded A+
Opioids, Controlled Substances, and Pain Management
1. Which prescription drug is the second-most commonly abused prescription
drug?
A. Codeine
B. Aspirin
C. Acetaminophen
D. Penicillin
Correct Answer: A. Codeine
Rationale: Codeine is widely prescribed and commonly abused; it is often cited as
the second-most abused prescription drug.
2. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act is also known as
what?
A. Controlled Substance Act of 1970
B. Pure Food and Drug Act
C. Harrison Act
D. FDA Modernization Act
Correct Answer: A. Controlled Substance Act of 1970
Rationale: The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act is
commonly called the Controlled Substance Act.
3. Transmucosal fentanyl is approved only for breakthrough cancer pain in
opioid-tolerant patients under which brand name?
A. Actiq
B. Avinza
C. Zohydro
D. Onsolis
Correct Answer: A. Actiq
,Rationale: Actiq is transmucosal fentanyl approved for breakthrough cancer pain
in opioid-tolerant patients.
4. Addictive drugs all activate the brain's _______.
A. Dopamine reward circuit
B. Serotonin reuptake pump
C. GABA receptor
D. Acetylcholine synapse
Correct Answer: A. Dopamine reward circuit
Rationale: Addictive drugs commonly activate mesolimbic dopamine reward
pathways.
5. After detox, an opioid addict can be prescribed _______ to discourage
renewed opioid abuse.
A. Naltrexone
B. Naloxone
C. Methadone
D. Buprenorphine
Correct Answer: A. Naltrexone
Rationale: Naltrexone is a long-acting opioid antagonist used to discourage
relapse after detoxification.
6. AIDS patients use dronabinol [Marinol] for what purpose?
A. Appetite stimulant
B. Antiviral
C. Analgesic
D. Antidepressant
Correct Answer: A. Appetite stimulant
Rationale: Dronabinol is approved as an appetite stimulant in AIDS-related
anorexia.
7. Which drug is used for treatment of opioid-induced ileus?
A. Alvimopan
B. Naloxone
C. Loperamide
D. Metoclopramide
Correct Answer: A. Alvimopan
,Rationale: Alvimopan is a peripherally acting mu-opioid antagonist used for
postoperative/opioid-induced ileus.
8. Amphetamines are classified as which schedule?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule III
C. Schedule IV
D. Schedule V
Correct Answer: A. Schedule II
Rationale: Amphetamines have high abuse potential and are Schedule II
controlled substances.
9. Amphetamines work primarily by promoting neuronal release of which
neurotransmitters?
A. Norepinephrine and dopamine
B. Serotonin and GABA
C. Acetylcholine and histamine
D. Glutamate and glycine
Correct Answer: A. Norepinephrine and dopamine
Rationale: Amphetamines mainly increase release of norepinephrine and
dopamine and partly block reuptake.
10. What are the most common adverse effects of amphetamines?
A. Insomnia and weight loss
B. Sedation and weight gain
C. Bradycardia and constipation
D. Hypotension and diarrhea
Correct Answer: A. Insomnia and weight loss
Rationale: CNS stimulation causes insomnia; appetite suppression causes weight
loss.
11. Which analgesics are the most effective available?
A. Opioids
B. NSAIDs
C. Acetaminophen
D. Tricyclic antidepressants
, Correct Answer: A. Opioids
Rationale: Opioids are the most effective analgesics for moderate to severe pain.
12. Extended-release morphine is called what?
A. Avinza
B. Actiq
C. Zohydro
D. Onsolis
Correct Answer: A. Avinza
Rationale: Avinza is an extended-release morphine formulation.
13. What is the antidote for barbiturate overdose?
A. None; supportive treatment only
B. Naloxone
C. Flumazenil
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: A. None; supportive treatment only
Rationale: There is no specific barbiturate antidote; treatment is supportive.
14. Barbiturate overdose produces the same classic triad as overdose of which
drug class?
A. Opioids
B. Benzodiazepines
C. Amphetamines
D. SSRIs
Correct Answer: A. Opioids
Rationale: Barbiturate overdose can cause respiratory depression, coma, and
pinpoint pupils, similar to opioid overdose.
15. Barbiturate-tolerant individuals are cross-tolerant to other CNS depressants
but not with _______.
A. Opioids
B. Alcohol
C. Benzodiazepines
D. General anesthetics
Correct Answer: A. Opioids
Psychopharmacology | Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale | New Update 2026-2027 | Graded A+
Opioids, Controlled Substances, and Pain Management
1. Which prescription drug is the second-most commonly abused prescription
drug?
A. Codeine
B. Aspirin
C. Acetaminophen
D. Penicillin
Correct Answer: A. Codeine
Rationale: Codeine is widely prescribed and commonly abused; it is often cited as
the second-most abused prescription drug.
2. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act is also known as
what?
A. Controlled Substance Act of 1970
B. Pure Food and Drug Act
C. Harrison Act
D. FDA Modernization Act
Correct Answer: A. Controlled Substance Act of 1970
Rationale: The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act is
commonly called the Controlled Substance Act.
3. Transmucosal fentanyl is approved only for breakthrough cancer pain in
opioid-tolerant patients under which brand name?
A. Actiq
B. Avinza
C. Zohydro
D. Onsolis
Correct Answer: A. Actiq
,Rationale: Actiq is transmucosal fentanyl approved for breakthrough cancer pain
in opioid-tolerant patients.
4. Addictive drugs all activate the brain's _______.
A. Dopamine reward circuit
B. Serotonin reuptake pump
C. GABA receptor
D. Acetylcholine synapse
Correct Answer: A. Dopamine reward circuit
Rationale: Addictive drugs commonly activate mesolimbic dopamine reward
pathways.
5. After detox, an opioid addict can be prescribed _______ to discourage
renewed opioid abuse.
A. Naltrexone
B. Naloxone
C. Methadone
D. Buprenorphine
Correct Answer: A. Naltrexone
Rationale: Naltrexone is a long-acting opioid antagonist used to discourage
relapse after detoxification.
6. AIDS patients use dronabinol [Marinol] for what purpose?
A. Appetite stimulant
B. Antiviral
C. Analgesic
D. Antidepressant
Correct Answer: A. Appetite stimulant
Rationale: Dronabinol is approved as an appetite stimulant in AIDS-related
anorexia.
7. Which drug is used for treatment of opioid-induced ileus?
A. Alvimopan
B. Naloxone
C. Loperamide
D. Metoclopramide
Correct Answer: A. Alvimopan
,Rationale: Alvimopan is a peripherally acting mu-opioid antagonist used for
postoperative/opioid-induced ileus.
8. Amphetamines are classified as which schedule?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule III
C. Schedule IV
D. Schedule V
Correct Answer: A. Schedule II
Rationale: Amphetamines have high abuse potential and are Schedule II
controlled substances.
9. Amphetamines work primarily by promoting neuronal release of which
neurotransmitters?
A. Norepinephrine and dopamine
B. Serotonin and GABA
C. Acetylcholine and histamine
D. Glutamate and glycine
Correct Answer: A. Norepinephrine and dopamine
Rationale: Amphetamines mainly increase release of norepinephrine and
dopamine and partly block reuptake.
10. What are the most common adverse effects of amphetamines?
A. Insomnia and weight loss
B. Sedation and weight gain
C. Bradycardia and constipation
D. Hypotension and diarrhea
Correct Answer: A. Insomnia and weight loss
Rationale: CNS stimulation causes insomnia; appetite suppression causes weight
loss.
11. Which analgesics are the most effective available?
A. Opioids
B. NSAIDs
C. Acetaminophen
D. Tricyclic antidepressants
, Correct Answer: A. Opioids
Rationale: Opioids are the most effective analgesics for moderate to severe pain.
12. Extended-release morphine is called what?
A. Avinza
B. Actiq
C. Zohydro
D. Onsolis
Correct Answer: A. Avinza
Rationale: Avinza is an extended-release morphine formulation.
13. What is the antidote for barbiturate overdose?
A. None; supportive treatment only
B. Naloxone
C. Flumazenil
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: A. None; supportive treatment only
Rationale: There is no specific barbiturate antidote; treatment is supportive.
14. Barbiturate overdose produces the same classic triad as overdose of which
drug class?
A. Opioids
B. Benzodiazepines
C. Amphetamines
D. SSRIs
Correct Answer: A. Opioids
Rationale: Barbiturate overdose can cause respiratory depression, coma, and
pinpoint pupils, similar to opioid overdose.
15. Barbiturate-tolerant individuals are cross-tolerant to other CNS depressants
but not with _______.
A. Opioids
B. Alcohol
C. Benzodiazepines
D. General anesthetics
Correct Answer: A. Opioids
