IC&RC Understanding Addiction Exam
Questions and Answers Graded A+
Addiction: - Correct answer-A chronic relapsing brain disease that is characterized
by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences
According to IC&RC addiction is similar to... - Correct answer-other chronic
diseases, such as heart disease
Chronic diseases have the following characteristics: - Correct answer-•Disrupt the
normal, healthy functioning of the underlying organ
•Have serious harmful consequences
•Are preventable and treatable
•Can last a lifetime
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,•May be fatal, if untreated
What plays a large role in whether an individual starts to smoke, drink, or use other
drugs? - Correct answer-BioPsychoSocial factors
Genetic factors are more influential in determining who develops the disease of
addiction
Psychoactive drugs: - Correct answer-drugs that affect the mind
How do psychoactive drugs affect the brain? - Correct answer-It is not drugs
directly that causes people to "get high."
Instead, it is the effect that certain substances have on neurotransmitters that causes
feelings of relaxation, excitement, pleasure and/or euphoria
Neurotransmitters: - Correct answer-Chemical substances that the body uses to
send signals across synapses to accomplish certain tasks
Nerve cells (neurons) receive signals - such as a drug like heroin - and respond by
releasing a specific neurotransmitter
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, Nearly all drugs work by enhancing or blocking the natural processes of
neurotransmitters, resulting in feelings of euphoria and other desirable effects of
drug use
Alcohol & drugs primarily effect the... - Correct answer-reward circuitry of the
brain (nucleus accumbens)
Cravings and triggers cause... - Correct answer-the reward circuit to light up and
when this happens the urge to use becomes stronger
Neurotransmitters released by different drugs: - Correct answer-•Dopamine:
affected by all psychoactive drugs
•Serotonin: Alcohol, stimulants, opiates and hallucinogens
•GABA: Alcohol, barbiturates & benzodiazepines
•Norepinephrine: Stimulants
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Questions and Answers Graded A+
Addiction: - Correct answer-A chronic relapsing brain disease that is characterized
by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences
According to IC&RC addiction is similar to... - Correct answer-other chronic
diseases, such as heart disease
Chronic diseases have the following characteristics: - Correct answer-•Disrupt the
normal, healthy functioning of the underlying organ
•Have serious harmful consequences
•Are preventable and treatable
•Can last a lifetime
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,•May be fatal, if untreated
What plays a large role in whether an individual starts to smoke, drink, or use other
drugs? - Correct answer-BioPsychoSocial factors
Genetic factors are more influential in determining who develops the disease of
addiction
Psychoactive drugs: - Correct answer-drugs that affect the mind
How do psychoactive drugs affect the brain? - Correct answer-It is not drugs
directly that causes people to "get high."
Instead, it is the effect that certain substances have on neurotransmitters that causes
feelings of relaxation, excitement, pleasure and/or euphoria
Neurotransmitters: - Correct answer-Chemical substances that the body uses to
send signals across synapses to accomplish certain tasks
Nerve cells (neurons) receive signals - such as a drug like heroin - and respond by
releasing a specific neurotransmitter
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Nearly all drugs work by enhancing or blocking the natural processes of
neurotransmitters, resulting in feelings of euphoria and other desirable effects of
drug use
Alcohol & drugs primarily effect the... - Correct answer-reward circuitry of the
brain (nucleus accumbens)
Cravings and triggers cause... - Correct answer-the reward circuit to light up and
when this happens the urge to use becomes stronger
Neurotransmitters released by different drugs: - Correct answer-•Dopamine:
affected by all psychoactive drugs
•Serotonin: Alcohol, stimulants, opiates and hallucinogens
•GABA: Alcohol, barbiturates & benzodiazepines
•Norepinephrine: Stimulants
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
