ADC Exam Study Guide UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What 3 parts of the brain are impacted most with substance misuse? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, and the extended amygdala
What about the prefrontal cortex is affected by addiction? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
assessment of situations, judgement, decision-making, controlling emotions, and controlling
desires becomes difficult.
What about the basal ganglia is affected by addiction? - CORRECT ANSWER - This is
known as the reward system/circuit of the brain which plays a role in motivation and creation of
habits/routines. Substances will over-activate this circuit, ultimately leading to decreased
sensitivity and euphoria overtime.
What receptor of the brain is affected most by addiction? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Dopamine (D2 Receptor)
What about the extended amygdala is affected most by addiction? - CORRECT
ANSWER - This is the emotion and memory center. Withdrawal symptoms and memories
tied to cravings lie here. This is the area of the brain that will change to make the user seek the
substance to relieve w/d symptoms.
How does the reward pathway change with substance misuse? - CORRECT ANSWER -
When a person misuses a drug, the brain produces fewer D2 receptors/neurotransmitters and/or
reduces the number of D2 receptors willing to accept signals. This change becomes permanent
which leads to tolerance.
What is acute tolerance? - CORRECT ANSWER - A decrease in response to alcohol or
drugs within a single exposure to a drug/alcohol.
,What is cross-tolerance? - CORRECT ANSWER - Resistance to the effects of a substance
because of exposure to a pharmacologically similar substance.
What is chronic tolerance? - CORRECT ANSWER - A decrease in response to substances
over a longer time period following continuous or intermittent exposure to the substance.
What is reverse tolerance? - CORRECT ANSWER - When a heavy user creates enough
damage to an internal organ, thus decreasing the organ's ability to process the substance. This
creates a lower tolerance.
What is a craving? - CORRECT ANSWER - The desire to experience the positive effects
of a substance.
What is an urge? - CORRECT ANSWER - The impulse to satisfy a craving.
Do cravings ever go away permanently? - CORRECT ANSWER - No, these may never go
away for heavy users due to severe neurocircuit damage/changes.
Is return-to-use likely in addiction treatment? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes.
What are risk factors for developing a substance use disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Aggressive behavior in childhood, Lack of parental supervision, Low peer refusal skills, Drug
experimentation at a young age, Availability of substances, Community poverty, Genetics,
Trauma expose, High ACES
What does ACES stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER - Adverse Childhood Experiences
What are withdrawal symptoms of alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - Autonomic
hyperactivity, Hand tremor, Insomnia, Nausea or vomiting, Hallucinations or illusions,
Psychomotor agitation, Anxiety, Generalized tonic-clonic seizures
, Can someone overdose on alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes, it can be deadly.
What are signs of an overdose on alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - Mental confusion,
Loss of consciousness, Vomiting and choking, Seizure, Troubles breathing, Slowed heart rate,
Dull responses
What are 3 common types of alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - Beer, Wine, Liquor
What are common types of cannabis? - CORRECT ANSWER - Hashish, K2, Marijuana,
Marinol, Spice, THC
What are symptoms of cannabis withdrawal? - CORRECT ANSWER - Irritability, Anger,
Aggression, Nervousness/anxiety, Sleep difficulty, Decreased appetite or weight loss,
Restlessness, Depressed mood, Abdominal pain, Shakiness or tremors, Sweating, Fever or chills,
Headache
Can someone overdose on marijuana? - CORRECT ANSWER - Not likely.
What are the types of known hallucinogens? - CORRECT ANSWER - DMT, DOM, LSD,
Mescaline, Mushrooms, Peyote, Psilocyn, Salvia, STP
What are signs of withdrawal from hallucinogens? - CORRECT ANSWER - This criteria
does not apply to hallucinogens according to the DSM-5TR.
Can someone overdose on hallucinogens? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes. Signs include
loss of muscle control, comas, convulsions, high BP, rapid eye movements, extreme tolerances to
pain.
What are common forms of inhalants? - CORRECT ANSWER - Butane, Chloroform,
Correction Fluid, Dust-Off, Gasoline, Lighter Fluid, Glue, Nasal Sprays, Paint, Solvents, Spray
Cans/Paint/Propellant
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What 3 parts of the brain are impacted most with substance misuse? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, and the extended amygdala
What about the prefrontal cortex is affected by addiction? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
assessment of situations, judgement, decision-making, controlling emotions, and controlling
desires becomes difficult.
What about the basal ganglia is affected by addiction? - CORRECT ANSWER - This is
known as the reward system/circuit of the brain which plays a role in motivation and creation of
habits/routines. Substances will over-activate this circuit, ultimately leading to decreased
sensitivity and euphoria overtime.
What receptor of the brain is affected most by addiction? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Dopamine (D2 Receptor)
What about the extended amygdala is affected most by addiction? - CORRECT
ANSWER - This is the emotion and memory center. Withdrawal symptoms and memories
tied to cravings lie here. This is the area of the brain that will change to make the user seek the
substance to relieve w/d symptoms.
How does the reward pathway change with substance misuse? - CORRECT ANSWER -
When a person misuses a drug, the brain produces fewer D2 receptors/neurotransmitters and/or
reduces the number of D2 receptors willing to accept signals. This change becomes permanent
which leads to tolerance.
What is acute tolerance? - CORRECT ANSWER - A decrease in response to alcohol or
drugs within a single exposure to a drug/alcohol.
,What is cross-tolerance? - CORRECT ANSWER - Resistance to the effects of a substance
because of exposure to a pharmacologically similar substance.
What is chronic tolerance? - CORRECT ANSWER - A decrease in response to substances
over a longer time period following continuous or intermittent exposure to the substance.
What is reverse tolerance? - CORRECT ANSWER - When a heavy user creates enough
damage to an internal organ, thus decreasing the organ's ability to process the substance. This
creates a lower tolerance.
What is a craving? - CORRECT ANSWER - The desire to experience the positive effects
of a substance.
What is an urge? - CORRECT ANSWER - The impulse to satisfy a craving.
Do cravings ever go away permanently? - CORRECT ANSWER - No, these may never go
away for heavy users due to severe neurocircuit damage/changes.
Is return-to-use likely in addiction treatment? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes.
What are risk factors for developing a substance use disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Aggressive behavior in childhood, Lack of parental supervision, Low peer refusal skills, Drug
experimentation at a young age, Availability of substances, Community poverty, Genetics,
Trauma expose, High ACES
What does ACES stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER - Adverse Childhood Experiences
What are withdrawal symptoms of alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - Autonomic
hyperactivity, Hand tremor, Insomnia, Nausea or vomiting, Hallucinations or illusions,
Psychomotor agitation, Anxiety, Generalized tonic-clonic seizures
, Can someone overdose on alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes, it can be deadly.
What are signs of an overdose on alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - Mental confusion,
Loss of consciousness, Vomiting and choking, Seizure, Troubles breathing, Slowed heart rate,
Dull responses
What are 3 common types of alcohol? - CORRECT ANSWER - Beer, Wine, Liquor
What are common types of cannabis? - CORRECT ANSWER - Hashish, K2, Marijuana,
Marinol, Spice, THC
What are symptoms of cannabis withdrawal? - CORRECT ANSWER - Irritability, Anger,
Aggression, Nervousness/anxiety, Sleep difficulty, Decreased appetite or weight loss,
Restlessness, Depressed mood, Abdominal pain, Shakiness or tremors, Sweating, Fever or chills,
Headache
Can someone overdose on marijuana? - CORRECT ANSWER - Not likely.
What are the types of known hallucinogens? - CORRECT ANSWER - DMT, DOM, LSD,
Mescaline, Mushrooms, Peyote, Psilocyn, Salvia, STP
What are signs of withdrawal from hallucinogens? - CORRECT ANSWER - This criteria
does not apply to hallucinogens according to the DSM-5TR.
Can someone overdose on hallucinogens? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes. Signs include
loss of muscle control, comas, convulsions, high BP, rapid eye movements, extreme tolerances to
pain.
What are common forms of inhalants? - CORRECT ANSWER - Butane, Chloroform,
Correction Fluid, Dust-Off, Gasoline, Lighter Fluid, Glue, Nasal Sprays, Paint, Solvents, Spray
Cans/Paint/Propellant
