NR546 WEEK 6 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
What is a significant risk factor for developing a substance use disorder? - ANS Early drug use,
either illicit or prescription medications, commonly beginning in adolescence.
What is a common occurrence in addiction medicine regarding diagnoses? - ANS Dual
diagnoses are common, where a substance use disorder may co-occur with other mental health
conditions.
What percentage of adolescents in community-based substance use disorder treatment may
have another mental health condition? - ANS Up to 60% may meet the diagnostic criteria for
another mental health condition.
What is one reason clients may engage in substance use? - ANS Clients may self-medicate to
treat distressing symptoms of other mental health conditions.
Name two common comorbidities associated with substance use disorders. - ANS Anxiety
disorders and depression.
How do mental health comorbidities affect substance use disorders? - ANS They impact the
course, prognosis, and treatment of both the substance use disorder and the comorbid
condition.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is the relationship between substance use disorders and bipolar disorder? -
ANS Bipolar disorder is one of the common mental health conditions that can co-occur with
substance use disorders.
List two personality disorders that may be comorbid with substance use disorders. -
ANS Borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
What type of illness can also be a comorbidity with substance use disorders? - ANS Psychotic
illness.
What percentage of vulnerability to substance use disorders may be attributed to genetic
factors? - ANS Between 40-60%
What do genetic factors influence regarding substance use? - ANS They can predispose
individuals to alcohol dependence and tobacco use, and affect the experience of a drug as
pleasurable.
What role do epigenetic factors play in substance use disorders? - ANS They influence
whether genes associated with substance use disorders are activated.
Which brain pathway is identified as key in mediating reward? - ANS The mesolimbic
dopamine pathway.
What areas of the brain does the mesolimbic pathway connect? - ANS It connects the ventral
tegmental area (VTA) to the ventral striatum, amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.
What is the function of the nucleus accumbens? - ANS It is associated with motivation and
reward.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What conditions may relate to inefficient processing in the prefrontal cortex/striatal circuitry? -
ANS Substance use disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and obesity.
How do drugs and alcohol affect dopamine levels? - ANS They act directly on brain receptors,
leading to a release of dopamine.
What happens to brain circuits as substance use increases? - ANS They adapt by reducing
sensitivity to dopamine, leading to tolerance.
What is dopamine's role in the mesolimbic pathway? - ANS It regulates the brain's
motivation, pleasure, and reward center.
What can repeated use of addictive drugs lead to? - ANS Changes in brain circuitry, craving,
addiction, dependence, and withdrawal.
What types of medications target dopamine in treating addiction? - ANS Medications that
treat addiction specifically target dopamine pathways.
What natural activities can cause dopamine release? - ANS Achieving accomplishments,
enjoying meals, or participating in athletic activities.
What is the significance of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the brain? - ANS It is one of
the major dopamine-producing areas.
What is the relationship between substance use and the need to increase usage? - ANS As
tolerance develops, individuals need to increase the use of a substance to achieve the same
high.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
What is a significant risk factor for developing a substance use disorder? - ANS Early drug use,
either illicit or prescription medications, commonly beginning in adolescence.
What is a common occurrence in addiction medicine regarding diagnoses? - ANS Dual
diagnoses are common, where a substance use disorder may co-occur with other mental health
conditions.
What percentage of adolescents in community-based substance use disorder treatment may
have another mental health condition? - ANS Up to 60% may meet the diagnostic criteria for
another mental health condition.
What is one reason clients may engage in substance use? - ANS Clients may self-medicate to
treat distressing symptoms of other mental health conditions.
Name two common comorbidities associated with substance use disorders. - ANS Anxiety
disorders and depression.
How do mental health comorbidities affect substance use disorders? - ANS They impact the
course, prognosis, and treatment of both the substance use disorder and the comorbid
condition.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is the relationship between substance use disorders and bipolar disorder? -
ANS Bipolar disorder is one of the common mental health conditions that can co-occur with
substance use disorders.
List two personality disorders that may be comorbid with substance use disorders. -
ANS Borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
What type of illness can also be a comorbidity with substance use disorders? - ANS Psychotic
illness.
What percentage of vulnerability to substance use disorders may be attributed to genetic
factors? - ANS Between 40-60%
What do genetic factors influence regarding substance use? - ANS They can predispose
individuals to alcohol dependence and tobacco use, and affect the experience of a drug as
pleasurable.
What role do epigenetic factors play in substance use disorders? - ANS They influence
whether genes associated with substance use disorders are activated.
Which brain pathway is identified as key in mediating reward? - ANS The mesolimbic
dopamine pathway.
What areas of the brain does the mesolimbic pathway connect? - ANS It connects the ventral
tegmental area (VTA) to the ventral striatum, amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.
What is the function of the nucleus accumbens? - ANS It is associated with motivation and
reward.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What conditions may relate to inefficient processing in the prefrontal cortex/striatal circuitry? -
ANS Substance use disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and obesity.
How do drugs and alcohol affect dopamine levels? - ANS They act directly on brain receptors,
leading to a release of dopamine.
What happens to brain circuits as substance use increases? - ANS They adapt by reducing
sensitivity to dopamine, leading to tolerance.
What is dopamine's role in the mesolimbic pathway? - ANS It regulates the brain's
motivation, pleasure, and reward center.
What can repeated use of addictive drugs lead to? - ANS Changes in brain circuitry, craving,
addiction, dependence, and withdrawal.
What types of medications target dopamine in treating addiction? - ANS Medications that
treat addiction specifically target dopamine pathways.
What natural activities can cause dopamine release? - ANS Achieving accomplishments,
enjoying meals, or participating in athletic activities.
What is the significance of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the brain? - ANS It is one of
the major dopamine-producing areas.
What is the relationship between substance use and the need to increase usage? - ANS As
tolerance develops, individuals need to increase the use of a substance to achieve the same
high.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
