Chapter 47: Drugs of Abuse
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a group in the community about drug abuse. Which statement by the
nurse is correct?
a. Cue-induced cravings eventually disappear after long periods of abstinence by the person
addicted to drugs.
b. Drug abuse and drug addiction are synonymous terms, describing dependence on drugs.
c. Drug addiction is characterized by emotional, mental, and sometimes physical dependence.
d. Drug addiction occurs when physical dependence is present.
ANS: C
Drug addiction occurs when emotional and mental dependence on a drug are present.
Although physical dependence may often occur, it is not always present. Cue-induced
cravings may diminish after long abstinence but do not disappear completely. Drug abuse
may occur without addiction.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 42
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
2. The nurse is caring for a patient who is being treated for chronic alcohol intoxication. The
nurse notes that the patients serum alcohol level is 0.40 mg%. The patient is awake and
talkative even though this is a potentially lethal dose. The nurse recognizes this as alcohol a.
addiction.
b. dependence.
c. misuse.
d. tolerance.
ANS: D
Intoxication is a state of being influenced by a drug or other substance and may be a very small
amount in the drug-nave person or a potentially lethal amount in the chronic user. This person
has developed tolerance to alcohol and is able to have a potentially lethal amount without
,severe effects. Addiction describes a state of emotional, mental, and physical dependence on a
drug. Dependence describes physical need for the drug such that when the drug is stopped,
withdrawal symptoms occur. Misuse refers to using a drug or substance to excess.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: Pages 42-43
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
3. What does the nurse understand must occur in order to produce withdrawal syndrome?
a. Addiction
b. Craving
c. Drug tolerance
d. Physical dependence
ANS: D
Patients who develop a physical dependence on a drug will experience withdrawal syndrome
when the drug is stopped. Addiction and cravings can occur without physical dependence.
Tolerance refers to a decrease in drug effects with repeated use.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 43
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
4. The nurse is counseling a patient who wants to stop smoking. Which statement by the nurse
is correct?
a. Bupropion (Zyban) is effective and does not have serious adverse effects.
b. Nicotine replacement therapies are effective and eliminate the need for behavioral therapy.
c. Varenicline (Chantix) may be used short-term for 1 to 2 months.
d. You may experience headaches and increased appetite for several months after stopping
smoking. ANS: D
Headaches and increased appetite are common during nicotine withdrawal and may last for
several months. Bupropion is effective but has many serious effects. Nicotine replacement
therapy does not eliminate the need for behavioral therapy. Varenicline is used for at least 4
months.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 45
, TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
5. A patient with asthma has been using a nicotine transdermal 24-hour patch for 3 weeks to
quit smoking. The patient reports having difficulty sleeping. What action will the nurse take?
a. Ask the provider for a prescription for Nicotrol NS.
b. Recommend removing the patch at bedtime.
c. Suggest using an 18-hour patch instead.
d. Tell the patient to stop the patch and join a support group.
ANS: C
The patient should try an 18-hour patch to help with sleep. Nicotrol is not a good option for
patients with asthma.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 47
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
6. The nurse is discussing smoking cessation with a nurse colleague who smokes. Which
statement indicates a readiness to quit smoking?
a. I dont smoke around my children or inside the house.
b. I want to stop smoking, but I will need help to do it.
c. I will quit so my co-workers will stop harassing me about it.
d. If I cut down gradually, I should be able to quit.
ANS: B
Patients exhibit readiness when they state a desire to quit along with a request for professional
assistance. Other factors, such as children or co-workers, do not indicate a desire to quit.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 59
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention/Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a group in the community about drug abuse. Which statement by the
nurse is correct?
a. Cue-induced cravings eventually disappear after long periods of abstinence by the person
addicted to drugs.
b. Drug abuse and drug addiction are synonymous terms, describing dependence on drugs.
c. Drug addiction is characterized by emotional, mental, and sometimes physical dependence.
d. Drug addiction occurs when physical dependence is present.
ANS: C
Drug addiction occurs when emotional and mental dependence on a drug are present.
Although physical dependence may often occur, it is not always present. Cue-induced
cravings may diminish after long abstinence but do not disappear completely. Drug abuse
may occur without addiction.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 42
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
2. The nurse is caring for a patient who is being treated for chronic alcohol intoxication. The
nurse notes that the patients serum alcohol level is 0.40 mg%. The patient is awake and
talkative even though this is a potentially lethal dose. The nurse recognizes this as alcohol a.
addiction.
b. dependence.
c. misuse.
d. tolerance.
ANS: D
Intoxication is a state of being influenced by a drug or other substance and may be a very small
amount in the drug-nave person or a potentially lethal amount in the chronic user. This person
has developed tolerance to alcohol and is able to have a potentially lethal amount without
,severe effects. Addiction describes a state of emotional, mental, and physical dependence on a
drug. Dependence describes physical need for the drug such that when the drug is stopped,
withdrawal symptoms occur. Misuse refers to using a drug or substance to excess.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: Pages 42-43
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
3. What does the nurse understand must occur in order to produce withdrawal syndrome?
a. Addiction
b. Craving
c. Drug tolerance
d. Physical dependence
ANS: D
Patients who develop a physical dependence on a drug will experience withdrawal syndrome
when the drug is stopped. Addiction and cravings can occur without physical dependence.
Tolerance refers to a decrease in drug effects with repeated use.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 43
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
4. The nurse is counseling a patient who wants to stop smoking. Which statement by the nurse
is correct?
a. Bupropion (Zyban) is effective and does not have serious adverse effects.
b. Nicotine replacement therapies are effective and eliminate the need for behavioral therapy.
c. Varenicline (Chantix) may be used short-term for 1 to 2 months.
d. You may experience headaches and increased appetite for several months after stopping
smoking. ANS: D
Headaches and increased appetite are common during nicotine withdrawal and may last for
several months. Bupropion is effective but has many serious effects. Nicotine replacement
therapy does not eliminate the need for behavioral therapy. Varenicline is used for at least 4
months.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 45
, TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
5. A patient with asthma has been using a nicotine transdermal 24-hour patch for 3 weeks to
quit smoking. The patient reports having difficulty sleeping. What action will the nurse take?
a. Ask the provider for a prescription for Nicotrol NS.
b. Recommend removing the patch at bedtime.
c. Suggest using an 18-hour patch instead.
d. Tell the patient to stop the patch and join a support group.
ANS: C
The patient should try an 18-hour patch to help with sleep. Nicotrol is not a good option for
patients with asthma.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 47
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
6. The nurse is discussing smoking cessation with a nurse colleague who smokes. Which
statement indicates a readiness to quit smoking?
a. I dont smoke around my children or inside the house.
b. I want to stop smoking, but I will need help to do it.
c. I will quit so my co-workers will stop harassing me about it.
d. If I cut down gradually, I should be able to quit.
ANS: B
Patients exhibit readiness when they state a desire to quit along with a request for professional
assistance. Other factors, such as children or co-workers, do not indicate a desire to quit.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 59
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention/Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Dependency
