ATI Mental Health: Substance Use Disorders (Week 5) Exam 2026
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Which of
the following medications should the nurse expect to administer first?
A. Disulfiram
B. Acamprosate
C. Naltrexone
D. Chlordiazepoxide
Answer: D
Rationale: Chlordiazepoxide is a benzodiazepine used to prevent seizures and manage
agitation during acute alcohol withdrawal.
2. A client is prescribed disulfiram for alcohol use disorder. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. I can use alcohol-based mouthwash as long as I do not swallow it.
B. I should avoid skin contact with any products containing alcohol.
C. I can start drinking alcohol again 24 hours after my last dose.
D. This medication will stop my cravings for alcohol.
Answer: B
Rationale: Clients on disulfiram must avoid all forms of alcohol, including topical products,
to prevent a disulfiram-alcohol reaction.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for opioid toxicity. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Pinpoint pupils
B. Tachycardia
C. Dilated pupils
D. Hyperreflexia
Answer: A
Rationale: Opioid toxicity or overdose typically presents with pinpoint pupils, respiratory
depression, and bradycardia.
4. Which medication is used specifically to reverse the effects of an opioid
overdose?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Methadone
D. Buprenorphine
Answer: B
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to rapidly reverse respiratory depression
caused by opioid overdose.
5. A nurse is assessing a client for alcohol withdrawal delirium (Delirium
Tremens). What is the typical timeframe for these symptoms to occur?
A. 2 to 3 hours after the last drink
B. 6 to 12 hours after the last drink
C. 1 to 2 weeks after the last drink
D. 2 to 3 days after the last drink
Answer: D
Rationale: Alcohol withdrawal delirium usually occurs 48 to 72 hours after the last
ingestion of alcohol.
, 6. Which of the following findings is a manifestation of cocaine intoxication?
A. Drowsiness
B. Bradycardia
C. Dilated pupils
D. Hypotension
Answer: C
Rationale: Stimulants like cocaine cause physiological arousal, including dilated pupils,
tachycardia, and hypertension.
7. A client is undergoing withdrawal from heroin. Which of the following
medications is often used to suppress symptoms?
A. Varenicline
B. Disulfiram
C. Clonidine
D. Lithium
Answer: C
Rationale: Clonidine is an alpha-2 agonist that helps reduce the autonomic hyperactivity
associated with opioid withdrawal.
8. In the CAGE assessment tool, what does the ‘E’ stand for?
A. Every day
B. Ending use
C. Excessive
D. Eye-opener
Answer: D
Rationale: CAGE stands for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener (needing a drink
first thing in the morning).
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Which of
the following medications should the nurse expect to administer first?
A. Disulfiram
B. Acamprosate
C. Naltrexone
D. Chlordiazepoxide
Answer: D
Rationale: Chlordiazepoxide is a benzodiazepine used to prevent seizures and manage
agitation during acute alcohol withdrawal.
2. A client is prescribed disulfiram for alcohol use disorder. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. I can use alcohol-based mouthwash as long as I do not swallow it.
B. I should avoid skin contact with any products containing alcohol.
C. I can start drinking alcohol again 24 hours after my last dose.
D. This medication will stop my cravings for alcohol.
Answer: B
Rationale: Clients on disulfiram must avoid all forms of alcohol, including topical products,
to prevent a disulfiram-alcohol reaction.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for opioid toxicity. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Pinpoint pupils
B. Tachycardia
C. Dilated pupils
D. Hyperreflexia
Answer: A
Rationale: Opioid toxicity or overdose typically presents with pinpoint pupils, respiratory
depression, and bradycardia.
4. Which medication is used specifically to reverse the effects of an opioid
overdose?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Methadone
D. Buprenorphine
Answer: B
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to rapidly reverse respiratory depression
caused by opioid overdose.
5. A nurse is assessing a client for alcohol withdrawal delirium (Delirium
Tremens). What is the typical timeframe for these symptoms to occur?
A. 2 to 3 hours after the last drink
B. 6 to 12 hours after the last drink
C. 1 to 2 weeks after the last drink
D. 2 to 3 days after the last drink
Answer: D
Rationale: Alcohol withdrawal delirium usually occurs 48 to 72 hours after the last
ingestion of alcohol.
, 6. Which of the following findings is a manifestation of cocaine intoxication?
A. Drowsiness
B. Bradycardia
C. Dilated pupils
D. Hypotension
Answer: C
Rationale: Stimulants like cocaine cause physiological arousal, including dilated pupils,
tachycardia, and hypertension.
7. A client is undergoing withdrawal from heroin. Which of the following
medications is often used to suppress symptoms?
A. Varenicline
B. Disulfiram
C. Clonidine
D. Lithium
Answer: C
Rationale: Clonidine is an alpha-2 agonist that helps reduce the autonomic hyperactivity
associated with opioid withdrawal.
8. In the CAGE assessment tool, what does the ‘E’ stand for?
A. Every day
B. Ending use
C. Excessive
D. Eye-opener
Answer: D
Rationale: CAGE stands for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener (needing a drink
first thing in the morning).
