PSYC 324 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
AND EXPLANATIONS
| American Public University
1. Which statement best captures an important distinction involving Protective factor?
A. protective factors reduce risk but do not guarantee immunity
B. universal programs differ from selective programs aimed at higher-risk groups
C. a risk factor raises probability but is not a deterministic cause
D. selective prevention is based on elevated group risk, not current symptoms in each participant
Correct Answer: A. protective factors reduce risk but do not guarantee immunity
Explanation: The key distinction is that protective factors reduce risk but do not guarantee immunity. Keeping
related concepts separate improves interpretation of substance-use behavior and evidence.
2. A care team is comparing several evidence-based options and specifically considers Buprenorphine for
OUD. Which choice best demonstrates treatment-to-problem matching?
A. Choose Acamprosate without checking whether it addresses the same treatment target
B. Choose Methadone for OUD without checking whether it addresses the same treatment target
C. Choose Naltrexone for OUD without checking whether it addresses the same treatment target
D. Match Buprenorphine for OUD to the target situation: ongoing treatment of opioid use disorder in outpatient
or other appropriate settings
Correct Answer: D. Match Buprenorphine for OUD to the target situation: ongoing treatment of opioid use
disorder in outpatient or other appropriate settings
Explanation: Appropriate matching means using Buprenorphine for OUD when ongoing treatment of opioid use
disorder in outpatient or other appropriate settings. Evidence-based status alone does not make every intervention
suitable for every substance or clinical goal.
3. Which term is best defined as a problematic pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant
impairment or distress?
A. Craving
B. Co-occurring disorder
C. Substance use disorder
D. Intoxication
Correct Answer: C. Substance use disorder
Explanation: Substance use disorder means a problematic pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant
impairment or distress. The concept should be applied precisely because nearby terms often answer a different
clinical or research question.
,4. Which statement best applies a public-health or social-context principle to Hydrocodone?
A. access without a traditional prescription does not mean that dose escalation is safe
B. using an OTC medication for intoxication is misuse even if purchasing it was legal
C. combination products may also contain acetaminophen, creating an additional toxicity risk if taken above
recommended amounts
D. combination cold or pain products can lead to accidental dose duplication if labels are not checked
Correct Answer: C. combination products may also contain acetaminophen, creating an additional toxicity risk
if taken above recommended amounts
Explanation: The best application is that combination products may also contain acetaminophen, creating an
additional toxicity risk if taken above recommended amounts. Social availability and legal status influence
behavior, but they do not substitute for pharmacologic and clinical risk assessment.
5. What is the primary therapeutic purpose of Family-based adolescent treatment?
A. reduces nicotine withdrawal by delivering nicotine without combustion products from cigarettes
B. changes family interaction, supervision, communication, and support around adolescent substance use
C. provides a substance-free living environment with peer and practical supports during recovery
D. reduces diversion and accidental poisoning by securing medications and removing unneeded drugs
appropriately
Correct Answer: B. changes family interaction, supervision, communication, and support around adolescent
substance use
Explanation: Family-based adolescent treatment is used because it changes family interaction, supervision,
communication, and support around adolescent substance use. Its place in care depends on the substance involved
and the patient's clinical needs.
6. A team has correctly determined that Prescription drug monitoring program is relevant to its substance-use
question. What is the most defensible next use of that information?
A. Use the finding to conclude that prevention and treatment can be strengthened by addressing practical barriers
alongside individual behavior
B. Use the finding to conclude that predictive value depends on prevalence as well as test characteristics
C. Use the finding to support the practical implication that data should trigger careful review, communication,
and risk mitigation rather than automatic conclusions
D. Use the finding to conclude that removing unused medication is a simple environmental prevention strategy
Correct Answer: C. Use the finding to support the practical implication that data should trigger careful review,
communication, and risk mitigation rather than automatic conclusions
Explanation: The sound next step is to use the concept for the implication that data should trigger careful review,
communication, and risk mitigation rather than automatic conclusions. This applies the evidence without extending
it beyond what the concept can support.
, 7. Which implication follows most logically from the concept of SBIRT?
A. fit, preference, accessibility, and recovery goals affect whether a group is helpful
B. medications can improve retention and outcomes for disorders where effective options exist
C. early identification can connect people to the level of care matching their risk
D. building resources can improve resilience to stress and reduce recurrence risk
Correct Answer: C. early identification can connect people to the level of care matching their risk
Explanation: The strongest implication is that early identification can connect people to the level of care matching
their risk. This follows directly from the meaning of SBIRT and avoids overgeneralizing beyond the evidence.
8. Which statement best distinguishes Relative risk from a related idea?
A. relative risk describes proportional difference and is different from absolute risk difference
B. a rate allows population comparison whereas a raw count does not account for population size
C. quality certification can reduce but not eliminate risk and does not prove effectiveness
D. absolute reduction differs from a 33 percent relative reduction in the same example
Correct Answer: A. relative risk describes proportional difference and is different from absolute risk difference
Explanation: The key distinction is that relative risk describes proportional difference and is different from
absolute risk difference. The difference matters when interpreting population data, testing, or prevention strategies.
9. A program or study does the following: a person is warned that a tablet resembling oxycodone may not
contain what its imprint suggests. Which concept is being used most directly?
A. Prescription drug monitoring program
B. HIV and hepatitis services in SUD care
C. Drug-testing sensitivity and specificity
D. Counterfeit medication awareness
Correct Answer: D. Counterfeit medication awareness
Explanation: This application reflects Counterfeit medication awareness because recognizing that pills obtained
outside legitimate pharmacy channels may contain unexpected substances such as fentanyl.
10. Which reasoning error would most clearly undermine correct use of Behavioral model of addiction?
A. assuming brain change means recovery is impossible
B. assuming learned behavior can always be changed by punishment alone
C. treating beliefs as irrelevant because the drug has pharmacologic effects
D. calling any unpleasant consequence negative reinforcement
Correct Answer: B. assuming learned behavior can always be changed by punishment alone
Explanation: The error is assuming learned behavior can always be changed by punishment alone. Correct use of
Behavioral model of addiction depends on recognizing that a model emphasizing learned reinforcement, cues,
consequences, and behavioral patterns that maintain use.
AND EXPLANATIONS
| American Public University
1. Which statement best captures an important distinction involving Protective factor?
A. protective factors reduce risk but do not guarantee immunity
B. universal programs differ from selective programs aimed at higher-risk groups
C. a risk factor raises probability but is not a deterministic cause
D. selective prevention is based on elevated group risk, not current symptoms in each participant
Correct Answer: A. protective factors reduce risk but do not guarantee immunity
Explanation: The key distinction is that protective factors reduce risk but do not guarantee immunity. Keeping
related concepts separate improves interpretation of substance-use behavior and evidence.
2. A care team is comparing several evidence-based options and specifically considers Buprenorphine for
OUD. Which choice best demonstrates treatment-to-problem matching?
A. Choose Acamprosate without checking whether it addresses the same treatment target
B. Choose Methadone for OUD without checking whether it addresses the same treatment target
C. Choose Naltrexone for OUD without checking whether it addresses the same treatment target
D. Match Buprenorphine for OUD to the target situation: ongoing treatment of opioid use disorder in outpatient
or other appropriate settings
Correct Answer: D. Match Buprenorphine for OUD to the target situation: ongoing treatment of opioid use
disorder in outpatient or other appropriate settings
Explanation: Appropriate matching means using Buprenorphine for OUD when ongoing treatment of opioid use
disorder in outpatient or other appropriate settings. Evidence-based status alone does not make every intervention
suitable for every substance or clinical goal.
3. Which term is best defined as a problematic pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant
impairment or distress?
A. Craving
B. Co-occurring disorder
C. Substance use disorder
D. Intoxication
Correct Answer: C. Substance use disorder
Explanation: Substance use disorder means a problematic pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant
impairment or distress. The concept should be applied precisely because nearby terms often answer a different
clinical or research question.
,4. Which statement best applies a public-health or social-context principle to Hydrocodone?
A. access without a traditional prescription does not mean that dose escalation is safe
B. using an OTC medication for intoxication is misuse even if purchasing it was legal
C. combination products may also contain acetaminophen, creating an additional toxicity risk if taken above
recommended amounts
D. combination cold or pain products can lead to accidental dose duplication if labels are not checked
Correct Answer: C. combination products may also contain acetaminophen, creating an additional toxicity risk
if taken above recommended amounts
Explanation: The best application is that combination products may also contain acetaminophen, creating an
additional toxicity risk if taken above recommended amounts. Social availability and legal status influence
behavior, but they do not substitute for pharmacologic and clinical risk assessment.
5. What is the primary therapeutic purpose of Family-based adolescent treatment?
A. reduces nicotine withdrawal by delivering nicotine without combustion products from cigarettes
B. changes family interaction, supervision, communication, and support around adolescent substance use
C. provides a substance-free living environment with peer and practical supports during recovery
D. reduces diversion and accidental poisoning by securing medications and removing unneeded drugs
appropriately
Correct Answer: B. changes family interaction, supervision, communication, and support around adolescent
substance use
Explanation: Family-based adolescent treatment is used because it changes family interaction, supervision,
communication, and support around adolescent substance use. Its place in care depends on the substance involved
and the patient's clinical needs.
6. A team has correctly determined that Prescription drug monitoring program is relevant to its substance-use
question. What is the most defensible next use of that information?
A. Use the finding to conclude that prevention and treatment can be strengthened by addressing practical barriers
alongside individual behavior
B. Use the finding to conclude that predictive value depends on prevalence as well as test characteristics
C. Use the finding to support the practical implication that data should trigger careful review, communication,
and risk mitigation rather than automatic conclusions
D. Use the finding to conclude that removing unused medication is a simple environmental prevention strategy
Correct Answer: C. Use the finding to support the practical implication that data should trigger careful review,
communication, and risk mitigation rather than automatic conclusions
Explanation: The sound next step is to use the concept for the implication that data should trigger careful review,
communication, and risk mitigation rather than automatic conclusions. This applies the evidence without extending
it beyond what the concept can support.
, 7. Which implication follows most logically from the concept of SBIRT?
A. fit, preference, accessibility, and recovery goals affect whether a group is helpful
B. medications can improve retention and outcomes for disorders where effective options exist
C. early identification can connect people to the level of care matching their risk
D. building resources can improve resilience to stress and reduce recurrence risk
Correct Answer: C. early identification can connect people to the level of care matching their risk
Explanation: The strongest implication is that early identification can connect people to the level of care matching
their risk. This follows directly from the meaning of SBIRT and avoids overgeneralizing beyond the evidence.
8. Which statement best distinguishes Relative risk from a related idea?
A. relative risk describes proportional difference and is different from absolute risk difference
B. a rate allows population comparison whereas a raw count does not account for population size
C. quality certification can reduce but not eliminate risk and does not prove effectiveness
D. absolute reduction differs from a 33 percent relative reduction in the same example
Correct Answer: A. relative risk describes proportional difference and is different from absolute risk difference
Explanation: The key distinction is that relative risk describes proportional difference and is different from
absolute risk difference. The difference matters when interpreting population data, testing, or prevention strategies.
9. A program or study does the following: a person is warned that a tablet resembling oxycodone may not
contain what its imprint suggests. Which concept is being used most directly?
A. Prescription drug monitoring program
B. HIV and hepatitis services in SUD care
C. Drug-testing sensitivity and specificity
D. Counterfeit medication awareness
Correct Answer: D. Counterfeit medication awareness
Explanation: This application reflects Counterfeit medication awareness because recognizing that pills obtained
outside legitimate pharmacy channels may contain unexpected substances such as fentanyl.
10. Which reasoning error would most clearly undermine correct use of Behavioral model of addiction?
A. assuming brain change means recovery is impossible
B. assuming learned behavior can always be changed by punishment alone
C. treating beliefs as irrelevant because the drug has pharmacologic effects
D. calling any unpleasant consequence negative reinforcement
Correct Answer: B. assuming learned behavior can always be changed by punishment alone
Explanation: The error is assuming learned behavior can always be changed by punishment alone. Correct use of
Behavioral model of addiction depends on recognizing that a model emphasizing learned reinforcement, cues,
consequences, and behavioral patterns that maintain use.
