NR546 Week 6 Exam Questions and
Answers 100% Solved | Graded A+
Substance Use Disorder - ✔✔Occurs when the recurrent use of a
substance, such as alcohol or drugs, causes clinically significant
impairment, including health problems, disability, or failure to meet
responsibilities at home, work, or school.
When does drug use typically begin? - ✔✔Adolescence
Common Comorbidities of substance use disorder - ✔✔Anxiety disorders
depression
bipolar disorder
psychotic illness
borderline personality disorder
antisocial personality disorder
Neurological basis: Genetic factors of SUD - ✔✔40-60% of a client's
vulnerability to substance use disorders may be attributed to genetic factors
1
©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,Vulnerability involves complex interactions between multiple genetic
factors/.
Genetic involvement may impact an individual's experience of a drug as
pleasurable or not or how long a drug remains in the body.
Epigenetic factors in SUD` - ✔✔influence whether genes associated with
substance use disorder are activated
Neurological Basis: Neuroanatomy in SUD - ✔✔Brain circuits that mediate
reward, impulse control, decision making, learning, and emotions play a
role in substance use disorder.
Mesolimbic Dopamine pathway in SUD - ✔✔has been identified as the key
pathway that mediates reward.
Connects the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain to the ventral striatum
of the basal ganglia.
2
©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,The pathway begins in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and connects to
the ventral striatum/nucleus
Neurobiological Basis: Neural Networks - ✔✔Mesolimbic pathway is most
associated with reward. Drugs and alcohol act directly on brain receptors
leading to a release of dopamine.
As substance use increases, brain circuits adapt by reducing sensitivity to
dopamine, leading to tolerance and the need to increase use of a
substance to achieve the same high.
Neurological Basis: Neural Signaling - ✔✔Dopamine is responsible for
regulating the brain's motivation, pleasure, and reward center.
Dopamine is release in response to natural pleasurable activities or
situations such as achieving an accomplishment, enjoying a good meal. or
participating in an athletic activity. Addictive drugs cause a surge of
dopamine in the ventral striatum or nucleus accumbens.
Repeated use can lead to changes in brain circuitry leading to craving,
addiction, dependence, withdrawal.
3
©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
, What neurotransmitter is the target when treating SUD? - ✔✔Dopamine.
Tolerance - ✔✔With repeated ingestion of a drug, the drug shows
decreased effect. Increasing doses are required to achieve the effects
noted with the original administration
Dependence - ✔✔State of adaption produced with repeated administration
of certain drugs so that physical symptoms occur when the drug is
discontinued abruptly.
Addiction - ✔✔A change in behavior caused by biochemical changes in the
brain after continued substance use characterized by preoccupation with
and repeated use of a substance despite negative outcomes.
Withdrawal - ✔✔Physiological and psychological reactions that occur when
the use of a substance is stopped abruptly.
Intoxication - ✔✔Condition following the ingestion of a substance resulting
in changes in level of consciousness, cognition, perception, judgement, and
behavior.
Treatment - ✔✔The PMHNP must ascertain what substance the client is
using, how much and how often the substance is used, and when the
4
©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
Answers 100% Solved | Graded A+
Substance Use Disorder - ✔✔Occurs when the recurrent use of a
substance, such as alcohol or drugs, causes clinically significant
impairment, including health problems, disability, or failure to meet
responsibilities at home, work, or school.
When does drug use typically begin? - ✔✔Adolescence
Common Comorbidities of substance use disorder - ✔✔Anxiety disorders
depression
bipolar disorder
psychotic illness
borderline personality disorder
antisocial personality disorder
Neurological basis: Genetic factors of SUD - ✔✔40-60% of a client's
vulnerability to substance use disorders may be attributed to genetic factors
1
©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,Vulnerability involves complex interactions between multiple genetic
factors/.
Genetic involvement may impact an individual's experience of a drug as
pleasurable or not or how long a drug remains in the body.
Epigenetic factors in SUD` - ✔✔influence whether genes associated with
substance use disorder are activated
Neurological Basis: Neuroanatomy in SUD - ✔✔Brain circuits that mediate
reward, impulse control, decision making, learning, and emotions play a
role in substance use disorder.
Mesolimbic Dopamine pathway in SUD - ✔✔has been identified as the key
pathway that mediates reward.
Connects the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain to the ventral striatum
of the basal ganglia.
2
©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,The pathway begins in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and connects to
the ventral striatum/nucleus
Neurobiological Basis: Neural Networks - ✔✔Mesolimbic pathway is most
associated with reward. Drugs and alcohol act directly on brain receptors
leading to a release of dopamine.
As substance use increases, brain circuits adapt by reducing sensitivity to
dopamine, leading to tolerance and the need to increase use of a
substance to achieve the same high.
Neurological Basis: Neural Signaling - ✔✔Dopamine is responsible for
regulating the brain's motivation, pleasure, and reward center.
Dopamine is release in response to natural pleasurable activities or
situations such as achieving an accomplishment, enjoying a good meal. or
participating in an athletic activity. Addictive drugs cause a surge of
dopamine in the ventral striatum or nucleus accumbens.
Repeated use can lead to changes in brain circuitry leading to craving,
addiction, dependence, withdrawal.
3
©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
, What neurotransmitter is the target when treating SUD? - ✔✔Dopamine.
Tolerance - ✔✔With repeated ingestion of a drug, the drug shows
decreased effect. Increasing doses are required to achieve the effects
noted with the original administration
Dependence - ✔✔State of adaption produced with repeated administration
of certain drugs so that physical symptoms occur when the drug is
discontinued abruptly.
Addiction - ✔✔A change in behavior caused by biochemical changes in the
brain after continued substance use characterized by preoccupation with
and repeated use of a substance despite negative outcomes.
Withdrawal - ✔✔Physiological and psychological reactions that occur when
the use of a substance is stopped abruptly.
Intoxication - ✔✔Condition following the ingestion of a substance resulting
in changes in level of consciousness, cognition, perception, judgement, and
behavior.
Treatment - ✔✔The PMHNP must ascertain what substance the client is
using, how much and how often the substance is used, and when the
4
©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
