Page 1 of 179
ASAM ADDICTION MEDICINE EXAM ALL 600
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
ASAM STUDY GUIDE
QUESTION: 1. 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? - ANSWER-
Esophageal
QUESTION: 2. 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? - ANSWER-
Impaired reaction time
1
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3. 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? - ANSWER-Naltrexone
QUESTION: 4. 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
QUESTION: 5. 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
QUESTION: 6. 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
2
, Page 3 of 179
QUESTION: 7. 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: - ANSWER-Pseudowithdrawal
QUESTION: 8. 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: - ANSWER-Symptom
recurrence (not true withdrawal)
QUESTION: 9. 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: - ANSWER-Rebound (not true
withdrawal)
QUESTION: 10. 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
3
, Page 4 of 179
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
QUESTION: 11. 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
QUESTION: 12. 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
QUESTION: 13. 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
4
ASAM ADDICTION MEDICINE EXAM ALL 600
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
ASAM STUDY GUIDE
QUESTION: 1. 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? - ANSWER-
Esophageal
QUESTION: 2. 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? - ANSWER-
Impaired reaction time
1
, Page 2 of 179
3. 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? - ANSWER-Naltrexone
QUESTION: 4. 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
QUESTION: 5. 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
QUESTION: 6. 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
2
, Page 3 of 179
QUESTION: 7. 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: - ANSWER-Pseudowithdrawal
QUESTION: 8. 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: - ANSWER-Symptom
recurrence (not true withdrawal)
QUESTION: 9. 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: - ANSWER-Rebound (not true
withdrawal)
QUESTION: 10. 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
3
, Page 4 of 179
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
QUESTION: 11. 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
QUESTION: 12. 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
QUESTION: 13. 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
4
