Chapter 27. Alcohol and Drug Addiction
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
