ASAM EXAM QUESTIONS BANK | 400 QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED 2024/2025
1. A 32-year-old woman is being evaluated for alcoholism. This is her first time in treatment. She has a
15-year history of alcohol dependence. Which of the following is the most appropriate medication? -
2. Answer-Naltrexone
3. A 14-year-old boy comes to the office for an annual examination. During the interview, he tells his
physician that he has switched from smoking cigarettes to using smokeless tobacco because he does not
want to get lung cancer. The physician should tell the patient that he is now at increased risk for cancer
of which of the following? -
4. Answer-Esophageal
5. A 32-year-old woman comes to the office seeking assistance with smoking cessation. She has smoked
two packs of cigarettes daily for the past eight years. She has attempted to quit twice before but was
unable to overcome the withdrawal symptoms. She is using a nicotine transdermal system to assist her
in smoking cessation. Which of the following is a side effect she should still expect to experience during
her withdrawal of nicotine? -
6. Answer-Impaired reaction time
7. A 42-year-old physician who specializes in ear, nose, and throat conditions is being interviewed for a
position by a hospital. She has active licenses in Arizona, Idaho, and Missouri (her last place of residence
for seven years). The training listed on her CV received has been verified by a primary source. The
National Data Bank contains no adverse records. Which of the following is troublesome to require? -
Answer-Polygraph test
8. A 45-year-old injection drug user was started on methadone maintenance one month prior to his
current hospitalization for pneumonia. On a routine inpatient electrocardiogram, he has a prolonged QT
interval. In addition to his methadone dose, which of the following factors increases his risk for
developing an arrhythmia? -
Answer-Hypokalemia
9. A 30-year-old woman began taking alprazolam 0.25 mg four times daily two weeks ago for generalized
anxiety disorder (GAD). She now has increased sedation as treatment continues. For this patient, select
the most appropriate term: -
Answer-Sensitization
,10. A 45-year-old woman who has been taking alprazolam 0.5 mg four times daily for GAD
ruminates about the next dose beginning two hours after the last dose. For this patient, select the
most appropriate term: -
11. Answer-Pseudowithdrawal
12. A 45-year-old man took alprazolam for GAD for one year. He was weaned off the medication
over a three-month period. Two weeks after complete cessation, he notices increased worry. For this
patient, select the most appropriate term: -
13. Answer-Symptom recurrence (not true withdrawal)
14. A 45-year-old man was placed on alprazolam 0.25 mg three times daily for GAD and treatment
was successful. He was tapered off of the medication over three months. One week after complete
cessation, he is tormented by anxiety and is sleeping only two hours per night. For this patient, select
the most appropriate term: -
15. Answer-Rebound (not true withdrawal)
16. A 36-year-old man who has a 20-year history of smoking cigarettes comes to the office for counseling
about smoking cessation. He has heard that "light" cigarettes may be safer and less addictive and asks
whether they could help him stop smoking. Which of the following statements about light cigarettes is
supported by scientific evidence? A: Smokers adjust their current nicotine level by adjusting puffing
habits -
Answer-Smokers adjust their current nicotine level by adjusting puffing habits
17. A 50-year-old man with alcohol dependency is hospitalized with signs of acute withdrawal. Which of
the following drugs should be administered to prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy in this patient? -
Answer-thiamine
18. A 25-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his partner because of a two-day
history of agitation. The patient says he left his work early because his boss was spying on him. His
speech is pressured. He says he has been taking medication for the past three months. His partner
reports that the patient had been taking more than the prescribed dose because he was preparing for a
college examination. Which of the following medications is the most likely cause of his symptoms? -
Answer-methylphenidate
19. A 45-year-old man has jaundice caused by chronic alcohol abuse. His physician spends several
minutes asking him about his drinking habits and encourages him to consider stopping drinking. The
,patient is not ready to contemplate stopping at that visit, but the physician brings up the topic in a
nonthreatening manner at subsequent visits until the patient decides to take some action to stop
, drinking. The physician then offers the patient several choices for accomplishing that goal. This
framework of brief interventions to promote healthful behavior is known as which of the following? -
Answer-motivational interviewing
20. A 17-year-old boy comes to the office for a sports physical examination. When asked about his drug
and alcohol use, he discloses that he recently started smoking marijuana. Which of the following is the
most likely source from which he obtained the marijuana? -
21. Answer-Friends
22. A retired physician works eight hours per week at a private general medicine clinic in a rural
community. The practice serves primarily economically stable, Medicare-eligible patients. Recently, the
physician learned and implemented a new diagnostic test with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 94%
to diagnose a disease. However, one of the physician's patients believes he has been incorrectly
diagnosed as a result of this test and retains a lawyer to file a suit against the physician. The successful
court argument against the use of the test by the physician is most likely based on which of the
following? -
Answer-Cases in the population per year (prevalence)
23. Which of the following disorders would most likely benefit from treatment with cannabinoid type 1
(CB1) receptor antagonists? -
24. Answer-Obesity(ref : Trends Neurosci. 2006 Feb 14; Links Involvement of the endocannabinoid
system in drug addiction. Maldonado R, Valverde O, Berrendero F. 6:Gadde KM. Endocannabinoid
receptor antagonists and other emerging pharma-cological strategies for weight reduction. Curr Drug
Targets Cardiovasc Haematol Disord. 2005 Dec;5(6):549-56.)
25. A patient comes to the emergency department because he is "hearing colors and smelling sounds."
He reports taking an unknown substance at a party several hours ago. Vital signs show increased pulse
rate and blood pressure. The patient is quite agitated and wants these effects to go away. Which of the
following drugs is most likely to cause these effects? -
26. Answer-Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
27. Which of the following neurotransmitters is most closely associated with the function of the brain
reward circuitry? -
28. Answer-Dopamine
29. A 19-year-old college student is brought to the emergency department after using drugs for the first
time. He says he initially felt as if he was "melting through the floor," but now feels as if he is "floating
through alternate realities." The experience lasts about one-half hour. Which of the following substances
ANSWERS | VERIFIED 2024/2025
1. A 32-year-old woman is being evaluated for alcoholism. This is her first time in treatment. She has a
15-year history of alcohol dependence. Which of the following is the most appropriate medication? -
2. Answer-Naltrexone
3. A 14-year-old boy comes to the office for an annual examination. During the interview, he tells his
physician that he has switched from smoking cigarettes to using smokeless tobacco because he does not
want to get lung cancer. The physician should tell the patient that he is now at increased risk for cancer
of which of the following? -
4. Answer-Esophageal
5. A 32-year-old woman comes to the office seeking assistance with smoking cessation. She has smoked
two packs of cigarettes daily for the past eight years. She has attempted to quit twice before but was
unable to overcome the withdrawal symptoms. She is using a nicotine transdermal system to assist her
in smoking cessation. Which of the following is a side effect she should still expect to experience during
her withdrawal of nicotine? -
6. Answer-Impaired reaction time
7. A 42-year-old physician who specializes in ear, nose, and throat conditions is being interviewed for a
position by a hospital. She has active licenses in Arizona, Idaho, and Missouri (her last place of residence
for seven years). The training listed on her CV received has been verified by a primary source. The
National Data Bank contains no adverse records. Which of the following is troublesome to require? -
Answer-Polygraph test
8. A 45-year-old injection drug user was started on methadone maintenance one month prior to his
current hospitalization for pneumonia. On a routine inpatient electrocardiogram, he has a prolonged QT
interval. In addition to his methadone dose, which of the following factors increases his risk for
developing an arrhythmia? -
Answer-Hypokalemia
9. A 30-year-old woman began taking alprazolam 0.25 mg four times daily two weeks ago for generalized
anxiety disorder (GAD). She now has increased sedation as treatment continues. For this patient, select
the most appropriate term: -
Answer-Sensitization
,10. A 45-year-old woman who has been taking alprazolam 0.5 mg four times daily for GAD
ruminates about the next dose beginning two hours after the last dose. For this patient, select the
most appropriate term: -
11. Answer-Pseudowithdrawal
12. A 45-year-old man took alprazolam for GAD for one year. He was weaned off the medication
over a three-month period. Two weeks after complete cessation, he notices increased worry. For this
patient, select the most appropriate term: -
13. Answer-Symptom recurrence (not true withdrawal)
14. A 45-year-old man was placed on alprazolam 0.25 mg three times daily for GAD and treatment
was successful. He was tapered off of the medication over three months. One week after complete
cessation, he is tormented by anxiety and is sleeping only two hours per night. For this patient, select
the most appropriate term: -
15. Answer-Rebound (not true withdrawal)
16. A 36-year-old man who has a 20-year history of smoking cigarettes comes to the office for counseling
about smoking cessation. He has heard that "light" cigarettes may be safer and less addictive and asks
whether they could help him stop smoking. Which of the following statements about light cigarettes is
supported by scientific evidence? A: Smokers adjust their current nicotine level by adjusting puffing
habits -
Answer-Smokers adjust their current nicotine level by adjusting puffing habits
17. A 50-year-old man with alcohol dependency is hospitalized with signs of acute withdrawal. Which of
the following drugs should be administered to prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy in this patient? -
Answer-thiamine
18. A 25-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his partner because of a two-day
history of agitation. The patient says he left his work early because his boss was spying on him. His
speech is pressured. He says he has been taking medication for the past three months. His partner
reports that the patient had been taking more than the prescribed dose because he was preparing for a
college examination. Which of the following medications is the most likely cause of his symptoms? -
Answer-methylphenidate
19. A 45-year-old man has jaundice caused by chronic alcohol abuse. His physician spends several
minutes asking him about his drinking habits and encourages him to consider stopping drinking. The
,patient is not ready to contemplate stopping at that visit, but the physician brings up the topic in a
nonthreatening manner at subsequent visits until the patient decides to take some action to stop
, drinking. The physician then offers the patient several choices for accomplishing that goal. This
framework of brief interventions to promote healthful behavior is known as which of the following? -
Answer-motivational interviewing
20. A 17-year-old boy comes to the office for a sports physical examination. When asked about his drug
and alcohol use, he discloses that he recently started smoking marijuana. Which of the following is the
most likely source from which he obtained the marijuana? -
21. Answer-Friends
22. A retired physician works eight hours per week at a private general medicine clinic in a rural
community. The practice serves primarily economically stable, Medicare-eligible patients. Recently, the
physician learned and implemented a new diagnostic test with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 94%
to diagnose a disease. However, one of the physician's patients believes he has been incorrectly
diagnosed as a result of this test and retains a lawyer to file a suit against the physician. The successful
court argument against the use of the test by the physician is most likely based on which of the
following? -
Answer-Cases in the population per year (prevalence)
23. Which of the following disorders would most likely benefit from treatment with cannabinoid type 1
(CB1) receptor antagonists? -
24. Answer-Obesity(ref : Trends Neurosci. 2006 Feb 14; Links Involvement of the endocannabinoid
system in drug addiction. Maldonado R, Valverde O, Berrendero F. 6:Gadde KM. Endocannabinoid
receptor antagonists and other emerging pharma-cological strategies for weight reduction. Curr Drug
Targets Cardiovasc Haematol Disord. 2005 Dec;5(6):549-56.)
25. A patient comes to the emergency department because he is "hearing colors and smelling sounds."
He reports taking an unknown substance at a party several hours ago. Vital signs show increased pulse
rate and blood pressure. The patient is quite agitated and wants these effects to go away. Which of the
following drugs is most likely to cause these effects? -
26. Answer-Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
27. Which of the following neurotransmitters is most closely associated with the function of the brain
reward circuitry? -
28. Answer-Dopamine
29. A 19-year-old college student is brought to the emergency department after using drugs for the first
time. He says he initially felt as if he was "melting through the floor," but now feels as if he is "floating
through alternate realities." The experience lasts about one-half hour. Which of the following substances
