Addiction Counselor Practice Test exam 2023 with 100% correct answer

1. A wife refers her husband for substance abuse counseling. His drug of choice is cocaine, which he has been using episodically with friends at a poker game—biweekly to weekly—for some years. She is disturbed at the illicit nature of the drug and the long-standing use. He states that though he recreationally uses, he does not crave cocaine, does not seek it out but rather uses with friends at the game who bring it, and he feels that other than his wife being upset about him using, he has no other social or occupational issues. Given the information provided, how is his use of cocaine BEST described? a. Substance abuse b. Cocaine intoxication c. Cocaine use disorder d. None of the above D. None of the above The DSM lists a set of eleven symptoms, 2 or more of which must have occurred at any time during the past 12 months for a diagnosis of substance use disorder. 1) Tolerance, defined as either the need for larger and larger amounts of the drug in question over time to achieve the desired result, or a decrease in the effect of the drug with continued use of the same amount 2) Withdrawal, defined by either the known withdrawal symptoms for a particular drug, or by the fact that the drug, or a similar drug, is taken to avoid withdrawal symptoms 3) An increase in the amount of the drug taken, or the continued use of the drug past the intended time 4) An inability to control usage 5) A large amount of time and effort devoted to obtaining the drug in question, using the drug in question, or recovering from its effects 6) The giving up of important activities in order to obtain or use the drug in question, or recover from its effects 7) The continued use of the drug in question regardless of the ill effects it has caused. 8) Craving 9) Recurrent drug use which leads to inability to fulfil major role 10) Recurrent drug use though it is physically harmful 11) Recurrent drug use despite it leading to continued social problems. He does not meet the criteria for current intoxication either. Recreational use commonly occurs biweekly or weekly, and the use is typically for reasons of sociality. Substance abuse counseling is therefore not indicated. However, counseling regarding the potential for life circumstances, stressors, or other unexpected losses or burdens to precipitate a future substance abuse problem should be discussed. 2. What does the experienced effect of a drug depend upon? a. The amount taken and past drug experiences b. The modality of administration c. Poly drug use, setting, and circumstance d. All of the above D: All of the Above The amount of a drug ingested will typically affect the user's experience, with higher doses often producing a greater effect (though potentially diminishing over time as tolerance develops). The modality of administration can greatly influence the rate of the drug's uptake into the system. Normally the rate of effect, from greatest to least, is: inhalation (snorting or smoking), injection (intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous), and ingestion (sublingual or swallowing with or without food). Generally, the faster the systemic uptake, the shorter and more intense the high experienced. Polydrug abuse greatly complicates the drug experience, particularly if the drugs used are chemical antagonists (e.g., stimulants and depressants—such as meth and alcohol), additive (producing a cumulative effect), synergistic (more than cumulative), or potentiating (each enhancing each other). The setting in which the substance use occurs is also often a significant contributor to the experience. The feelings engendered by the surroundings, the people with whom the experience is shared, the attitudes and reactions of others involved, as well as personal past drug experiences and individual biology all combine to produce a drug experience. 3. How is drug tolerance BEST described? a. The inability to get intoxicated b. The need for more of a drug to get intoxicated c. Increased sensitivity to a drug over time d. Decreased sensitivity to a drug over time D: Decreased sensitivity to a drug over time When a drug is used regularly, the body is gradually able to adapt to the effects of the drug. Evidence of tolerance is twofold: (1) greater doses of the drug are required to achieve previous effects, and (2) doses that would have produced profound physiological compromise or even death are now readily tolerated without untoward effects. In some cases, it has been noted that up to ten times a lethal dosage, or even more, may be taken without any signs of significant physiological compromise. Tolerance develops as the body seeks homeostasis, or a functional state of equilibrium, in spite of the presence of the drug.