CADC exam prep Ch 1 (Addiction
Counselor's Desk Reference) Questions
and Answers
Opiates - Answer- A category of psychoactive drugs that are chemically similar to
morphine and have strong pain-relieving properties.
- Opiates cross into blood-brain barrier to produce a rush/feelings of euphoria.
- Significant respiratory complications, death, cardiac depression.
- Physical dependence develops dramatically as soon as regular use begins
(sometimes even when its administered clinically appropriate).
Withdrawal symptoms include: restlessness, irritability, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, and
gooseflesh.
Subcutaneous - Answer- Injection of medication in a liquid form underneath the skin
into the subcutaneous tissue
GABA - Answer- inhibitory neurotransmitter slows or calms things down.
Heroin (Opiate) - Answer- - Naturally occurring substance extracted from seedpod of
various poppy plants.
- 1898 - commercially marketed as new pain remedy
- 1914 - designated as controlled substance under the Harrison Narcotic Act
- Schedule 1 drug.
- Route of administration: smoked, snorted, or IV. Greatest intensity and most rapid
onset of euphoria (7-8 sec) from IV. Peak effects felt by 10-15 min.
- Crosses the blood-brain barrier, converts to morphine, and rapidly binds to opioid
receptors in brain.
- Serious adverse health side effects: fatal OD, collapsed veins, cardiac depression,
and blood-borne infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, Hep C) + societal consequences such
as disruptions in family, work place, etc.
- Significant increase of OD (slow, shallow breathing, convulsions, coma) &/or death.
- Street heroin often cut with various other substances (sugar, starch, strychnine, etc)
that do not dissolve when injected and cause more issues in body.
- Major withdrawal symptoms peak btw 48-72 hours after last dose. Subside in about a
week.
Fentanyl (Rx Opiate) - Answer- - Commonly used and abused agent
- Exists in 2 formulations: 1. Injectable form used with other agents during anesthesia, &
2. A skin patch used as a sustained-release form to treat pain.
Various other Rx Opiates - Answer- - Morphine, meperidine (Demerol), fentanyl: most
commonly appear as prepared injection forms that have been diverted from legal
medical use. May be injected either IV or subcutaneously (skin popping).
, - Codeine, propoxyphene: Lower potency and usually appear in pill form and taken
orally.
Depressants - Answer- Drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce
neural activity and slow body functions.
- Prescribed to help relieve anxiety, irratibility, and tension.
- Normally called "downers" because they calm users down.
- With regular use, high potential for abuse and development of tolerance.
- Effects are exacerbated when various kinds of depressants mix (alcohol + barbs = not
good).
- Small amounts cause calmness and relaxed muscles while large amounts cause
slurred speech, impaired judgment, and loss of motor coordination. Larger amounts
may cause decreased breathing rate, coma, and death.
Alcohol - Answer- - Consumption effects: The more drinks consumed the more
depressed and adversely affected one's brain activity becomes ,e.g. Cerebrum (controls
advanced functions such as recognition, vision, reasoning, and emotion). Lowest levels:
impacts inhibition and judgment. Increased levels: impacts vision, movement, speech
(.01% to .30 % BAC).
- Impacts part of the brain in charge of movement - causing problems with coordination,
reflexes, and balance (.15% to .35% BAC). Impacts Medulla (controls basic survival
functions i.e. breathing & heartbeat) resulting ij the reduction of brains ability to control
respiration and heart rate.
- Death can result at .30% BAC>
Alcohol absorption - Answer- - Absorption: 20% absorbed in stomach, 80% absorbed in
small intenstine.
-Alcohol absorption depends on:
1. Alcohol concentration - the greater the concentration, the faster the absorption.
2. The type of drink: Carbonated beverages tend to speed up the absorption of alcohol.
3. Full or empty stomach: Food slows down alcohol absorption.
Alcohol excretion - Answer- Alcohol leaves body in 3 ways:
1. Kidney eliminates 5% of alcohol in urine
2. Lungs exhale 5% of alcohol
3. Liver breaks down the remaining 90% of alcohol into acetic acid.
Barbiturates (depressants) - Answer- - EX: Seconal, Nembutal.
- the "al" endings.
- Usually in pill or sometimes in liquid form or suppositories.
- Affect the central nervous system (CNS) by slowing or decreasing neurological activity
in the mind/body.
-Prescribed for treatment for sleeplessness, anxiety, tension, epileptic seizures.
- Short term effects: Lasting 15 hours after ingestion (include relief of tension, anxiety,
sleepiness, feeling of intoxication, slurred speech, memory impairment, emotional
instability, and inability to control simple bodily functions.
Counselor's Desk Reference) Questions
and Answers
Opiates - Answer- A category of psychoactive drugs that are chemically similar to
morphine and have strong pain-relieving properties.
- Opiates cross into blood-brain barrier to produce a rush/feelings of euphoria.
- Significant respiratory complications, death, cardiac depression.
- Physical dependence develops dramatically as soon as regular use begins
(sometimes even when its administered clinically appropriate).
Withdrawal symptoms include: restlessness, irritability, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, and
gooseflesh.
Subcutaneous - Answer- Injection of medication in a liquid form underneath the skin
into the subcutaneous tissue
GABA - Answer- inhibitory neurotransmitter slows or calms things down.
Heroin (Opiate) - Answer- - Naturally occurring substance extracted from seedpod of
various poppy plants.
- 1898 - commercially marketed as new pain remedy
- 1914 - designated as controlled substance under the Harrison Narcotic Act
- Schedule 1 drug.
- Route of administration: smoked, snorted, or IV. Greatest intensity and most rapid
onset of euphoria (7-8 sec) from IV. Peak effects felt by 10-15 min.
- Crosses the blood-brain barrier, converts to morphine, and rapidly binds to opioid
receptors in brain.
- Serious adverse health side effects: fatal OD, collapsed veins, cardiac depression,
and blood-borne infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, Hep C) + societal consequences such
as disruptions in family, work place, etc.
- Significant increase of OD (slow, shallow breathing, convulsions, coma) &/or death.
- Street heroin often cut with various other substances (sugar, starch, strychnine, etc)
that do not dissolve when injected and cause more issues in body.
- Major withdrawal symptoms peak btw 48-72 hours after last dose. Subside in about a
week.
Fentanyl (Rx Opiate) - Answer- - Commonly used and abused agent
- Exists in 2 formulations: 1. Injectable form used with other agents during anesthesia, &
2. A skin patch used as a sustained-release form to treat pain.
Various other Rx Opiates - Answer- - Morphine, meperidine (Demerol), fentanyl: most
commonly appear as prepared injection forms that have been diverted from legal
medical use. May be injected either IV or subcutaneously (skin popping).
, - Codeine, propoxyphene: Lower potency and usually appear in pill form and taken
orally.
Depressants - Answer- Drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce
neural activity and slow body functions.
- Prescribed to help relieve anxiety, irratibility, and tension.
- Normally called "downers" because they calm users down.
- With regular use, high potential for abuse and development of tolerance.
- Effects are exacerbated when various kinds of depressants mix (alcohol + barbs = not
good).
- Small amounts cause calmness and relaxed muscles while large amounts cause
slurred speech, impaired judgment, and loss of motor coordination. Larger amounts
may cause decreased breathing rate, coma, and death.
Alcohol - Answer- - Consumption effects: The more drinks consumed the more
depressed and adversely affected one's brain activity becomes ,e.g. Cerebrum (controls
advanced functions such as recognition, vision, reasoning, and emotion). Lowest levels:
impacts inhibition and judgment. Increased levels: impacts vision, movement, speech
(.01% to .30 % BAC).
- Impacts part of the brain in charge of movement - causing problems with coordination,
reflexes, and balance (.15% to .35% BAC). Impacts Medulla (controls basic survival
functions i.e. breathing & heartbeat) resulting ij the reduction of brains ability to control
respiration and heart rate.
- Death can result at .30% BAC>
Alcohol absorption - Answer- - Absorption: 20% absorbed in stomach, 80% absorbed in
small intenstine.
-Alcohol absorption depends on:
1. Alcohol concentration - the greater the concentration, the faster the absorption.
2. The type of drink: Carbonated beverages tend to speed up the absorption of alcohol.
3. Full or empty stomach: Food slows down alcohol absorption.
Alcohol excretion - Answer- Alcohol leaves body in 3 ways:
1. Kidney eliminates 5% of alcohol in urine
2. Lungs exhale 5% of alcohol
3. Liver breaks down the remaining 90% of alcohol into acetic acid.
Barbiturates (depressants) - Answer- - EX: Seconal, Nembutal.
- the "al" endings.
- Usually in pill or sometimes in liquid form or suppositories.
- Affect the central nervous system (CNS) by slowing or decreasing neurological activity
in the mind/body.
-Prescribed for treatment for sleeplessness, anxiety, tension, epileptic seizures.
- Short term effects: Lasting 15 hours after ingestion (include relief of tension, anxiety,
sleepiness, feeling of intoxication, slurred speech, memory impairment, emotional
instability, and inability to control simple bodily functions.
