CALMHSA Peer Support Cert exam
Questions with Answers-Latest
2024/2025
What is harm reduction? - ANSWER Minimizing risk and harm associated with
substance use.
What are some problems society links with drug use? - ANSWER Disease, crime, and
violence.
What are some examples of risk reduction? - ANSWER Wearing seatbelts,
using condoms, and getting enough sleep.
What is the most important part of harm reduction? - ANSWER Demonstrating
respect and love for people who use drugs.
What is the safest option during pregnancy and breastfeeding? - ANSWER Abstaining
from all recreational substance use.
What if someone has trouble achieving abstinence? - ANSWER They may have
a substance use disorder.
What are some tips for a healthy pregnancy? - ANSWER Take prenatal vitamins, get
good prenatal care, support your body.
What should a healthcare provider do if a patient is unable or unwilling to stop using?
- ANSWER Continue to work with them.
,Are multiple lapses common in the journey to stop using? - ANSWER Yes.
What should you do if a treatment does not work? - ANSWER Try something else.
Why is it difficult to definitively state if substance use causes negative pregnancy
outcomes? - ANSWER Other variables cannot be controlled for.
What are some potential dangers of abruptly stopping alcohol or benzodiazepine use?
- ANSWER It can be dangerous without medical assistance.
Why can street-based drug markets be dangerous? - ANSWER Products are mixed with
fillers and other drugs.
What are general harm reduction strategies? - ANSWER Use clean needles, test drugs,
have naloxone available.
What is the most important thing you can do for a healthy pregnancy? - ANSWER
Get good prenatal care.
What do prenatal vitamins provide? - ANSWER Extra minerals and nutrients.
What are some ways to support your body during pregnancy? - ANSWER Stay
hydrated, get enough sleep, eat well.
What is the first thing listed under each substance in the information section? - ANSWER
The most severe possible harms.
,What is a potential danger of consuming drugs from street-based drug markets? -
ANSWER You may not be consuming what you think you are.
What is the expected part of just about everyone's journey to stop using? -
ANSWER Multiple lapses.
What should you do if you're considering stopping alcohol or benzodiazepine use?
- ANSWER Speak with a provider.
What do studies about pregnancy and substance use often not control for? - ANSWER
Other variables such as poverty, racism, and trauma.
What is the purpose of the information section for each substance? - ANSWER To list
the possible harms.
What do prenatal vitamins help ensure? - ANSWER Your baby's healthy development.
What is the danger of abruptly stopping alcohol or benzodiazepine use without medical
assistance? - ANSWER It can be dangerous.
What is the benefit of keeping track of your substance use? - ANSWER May reduce use
What is an example of setting personal limits? - ANSWER Not using more than 2 bags
of heroin every 8 hours
What are some support groups for substance use? - ANSWER Moderation
Management, SMART Recovery, Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous
, What should you do before any substance use if you are a parent? - ANSWER Arrange
for childcare if necessary
What should you avoid when using drugs? - ANSWER Driving or making
important decisions
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? - ANSWER Birth defects and limitations
in thinking, reasoning and learning
What are some physical effects of FASD? - ANSWER Abnormal facial features, low
birth weight, and smaller head size
What are some risks of drinking alcohol while pregnant? - ANSWER Miscarriage,
stillbirth, and FASD
Why is it important to discuss decreasing alcohol consumption with a provider?
- ANSWER Stopping abruptly can be dangerous and cause seizures or death
What is a safer method for substance use? - ANSWER See: Getting Off Right
Safety Manual
What should you do if you are trying to decrease alcohol consumption during
pregnancy? - ANSWER Discuss with a provider
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder? - ANSWER A range of physical and mental
disabilities.
What is the impact of binge drinking or severe alcohol use disorder on children? -
ANSWER Increase in behavior problems or difficulty thinking.
Questions with Answers-Latest
2024/2025
What is harm reduction? - ANSWER Minimizing risk and harm associated with
substance use.
What are some problems society links with drug use? - ANSWER Disease, crime, and
violence.
What are some examples of risk reduction? - ANSWER Wearing seatbelts,
using condoms, and getting enough sleep.
What is the most important part of harm reduction? - ANSWER Demonstrating
respect and love for people who use drugs.
What is the safest option during pregnancy and breastfeeding? - ANSWER Abstaining
from all recreational substance use.
What if someone has trouble achieving abstinence? - ANSWER They may have
a substance use disorder.
What are some tips for a healthy pregnancy? - ANSWER Take prenatal vitamins, get
good prenatal care, support your body.
What should a healthcare provider do if a patient is unable or unwilling to stop using?
- ANSWER Continue to work with them.
,Are multiple lapses common in the journey to stop using? - ANSWER Yes.
What should you do if a treatment does not work? - ANSWER Try something else.
Why is it difficult to definitively state if substance use causes negative pregnancy
outcomes? - ANSWER Other variables cannot be controlled for.
What are some potential dangers of abruptly stopping alcohol or benzodiazepine use?
- ANSWER It can be dangerous without medical assistance.
Why can street-based drug markets be dangerous? - ANSWER Products are mixed with
fillers and other drugs.
What are general harm reduction strategies? - ANSWER Use clean needles, test drugs,
have naloxone available.
What is the most important thing you can do for a healthy pregnancy? - ANSWER
Get good prenatal care.
What do prenatal vitamins provide? - ANSWER Extra minerals and nutrients.
What are some ways to support your body during pregnancy? - ANSWER Stay
hydrated, get enough sleep, eat well.
What is the first thing listed under each substance in the information section? - ANSWER
The most severe possible harms.
,What is a potential danger of consuming drugs from street-based drug markets? -
ANSWER You may not be consuming what you think you are.
What is the expected part of just about everyone's journey to stop using? -
ANSWER Multiple lapses.
What should you do if you're considering stopping alcohol or benzodiazepine use?
- ANSWER Speak with a provider.
What do studies about pregnancy and substance use often not control for? - ANSWER
Other variables such as poverty, racism, and trauma.
What is the purpose of the information section for each substance? - ANSWER To list
the possible harms.
What do prenatal vitamins help ensure? - ANSWER Your baby's healthy development.
What is the danger of abruptly stopping alcohol or benzodiazepine use without medical
assistance? - ANSWER It can be dangerous.
What is the benefit of keeping track of your substance use? - ANSWER May reduce use
What is an example of setting personal limits? - ANSWER Not using more than 2 bags
of heroin every 8 hours
What are some support groups for substance use? - ANSWER Moderation
Management, SMART Recovery, Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous
, What should you do before any substance use if you are a parent? - ANSWER Arrange
for childcare if necessary
What should you avoid when using drugs? - ANSWER Driving or making
important decisions
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)? - ANSWER Birth defects and limitations
in thinking, reasoning and learning
What are some physical effects of FASD? - ANSWER Abnormal facial features, low
birth weight, and smaller head size
What are some risks of drinking alcohol while pregnant? - ANSWER Miscarriage,
stillbirth, and FASD
Why is it important to discuss decreasing alcohol consumption with a provider?
- ANSWER Stopping abruptly can be dangerous and cause seizures or death
What is a safer method for substance use? - ANSWER See: Getting Off Right
Safety Manual
What should you do if you are trying to decrease alcohol consumption during
pregnancy? - ANSWER Discuss with a provider
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder? - ANSWER A range of physical and mental
disabilities.
What is the impact of binge drinking or severe alcohol use disorder on children? -
ANSWER Increase in behavior problems or difficulty thinking.
