HTW 318 EXAM 1 @ SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY | COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH &
WELLNESS STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Psychoactive Drug - ANS ✔✔A drug that alters behavior, thought, or perception by altering biochemical
reactions in the nervous system, thereby affecting consciousness
(think: psycho)
Homeostasis - ANS ✔✔A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of
any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level, equilibrium.
(think: you feel balanced at home)
Allostasis - ANS ✔✔a dynamic body adjustment, related to homeostasis, that affects overall physiology
over time. The main difference is that homeostasis requires an immediate response whereas allostasis
requires longer-term adjustments.
(think: it has the word "all" in it so it has an overall affect)
Drugs are not good or bad - ANS ✔✔Drugs are chemicals on a shelf that remain inactive until entering
the body. Blaming the substance ignores all the factors that may lead to abuse. For example, Heroine is
an excellent painkiller if not abused
Drug - ANS ✔✔Any substance, natural or artificial, other than food, that by its chemical nature alters
structure or function in a living organism
Illicit Drug - ANS ✔✔A drug that is unlawful to possess or use
(think: "ill"licit = "ill"egal)
Deviant Drug Use - ANS ✔✔Drug use that is not common within a social group and is disapproved of by
the majority. (Ex: Someone trying meth while the rest of his friends continue to smoke weed)
Drug Misuse - ANS ✔✔Use of drugs or chemicals in greater amounts than, or for the purposes other
than, those prescribed by a doctor
Drug Abuse - ANS ✔✔Substance use in a matter, amount, or in situations such that it causes social,
occupational, psychological, or physical problems
Drug Dependence - ANS ✔✔A more precise term for addiction. It is a state in which an individual uses a
drug so frequently or consistently that it would be difficult for the person to stop. May or may not be
physiological. It is defined as a behavioral disorder.
Throughout History, drugs have been used for... - ANS ✔✔Enhancing spiritual experiences, Major
economic roles (wine, tobacco,) and treatment for illnesses.
, Monitoring the Future Project - ANS ✔✔A survey that gathers data from students from the 8th grade to
college students. It has been conducted annually for almost 40 years. The data they collect is on the
prevalence of drug use and the perceived risk and availability of various drugs.
National Survey on Drug Use and Health - ANS ✔✔A survey that gathers data from U.S. households (not
just students). It also consists of face-to-face interviews. Data is collected on anyone older than 12 years
old. The data collected is based on the prevalence of drug use and the frequency of drug use.This survey
has been conducted for over 40 years annually.
Correlates of Drug Use - ANS ✔✔Gender: Men use more drugs than women
Race: Whites are more likely to drink alcohol than African Americans
Level of Education: College graduates are less likely to smoke tobacco than high school graduates
Personality: Impulsive individuals may use drugs at a higher rate.
Genetics: genetics may play a role in who will develop a substance abuse disorder
Antecendent - ANS ✔✔A factor that occurs before an event such as the initiation of drug use. Not
necessarily the causes of the drug use.
Examples of antecedents are Aggressiveness, conduct problems, poor academic performance,
attachment to a drug-using peer group, parental and community norms that support drug use.
Gateway - ANS ✔✔One of the first drugs used by a typical drug user. Alcohol and tobacco are sometimes
considered gateway drugs. Gateway substances may not be the cause of future drug use. Gateway
substances are best thought of as "early indicators of a basic pattern of deviant behavior resulting from a
variety of risk factors
Motives for Drug Use - ANS ✔✔There are several influences of drug use:
1. Identification with a deviant subculture.
2. Rebelliousness
3. Fads and cultural trends
4. Reinforcing properties of drugs
5. Desire to experience an altered state
Problems related to taking the drug - ANS ✔✔Risk of developing drug dependence and risk of overdose
Problems related to drug use as deviant behavior - ANS ✔✔Risk of arrests, fines, jailing, expenses
associated with drug prevention and treatment.
Three Main Concerns for legalizing drugs - ANS ✔✔1. Toxicity (dangerous chemicals)
2. Dependence (habit-forming compounds)
3. Crime (Drug users become dangerous)
Physiological Toxicity - ANS ✔✔Acute: Short-term effects of a single dose. Ex: Prescription painkiller
overdose (the user stops breathing)
Chronic: Long-term effects from repeated use. Ex: High blood pressure, heart disease, lung cancer,
Cirrhosis.
Behavioral Toxicity - ANS ✔✔Acute: Short-term effect of a single dose on your behavior. Ex: Drunk
driving and/or intoxication that dangerously impairs behavioral functioning
WELLNESS STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Psychoactive Drug - ANS ✔✔A drug that alters behavior, thought, or perception by altering biochemical
reactions in the nervous system, thereby affecting consciousness
(think: psycho)
Homeostasis - ANS ✔✔A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of
any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level, equilibrium.
(think: you feel balanced at home)
Allostasis - ANS ✔✔a dynamic body adjustment, related to homeostasis, that affects overall physiology
over time. The main difference is that homeostasis requires an immediate response whereas allostasis
requires longer-term adjustments.
(think: it has the word "all" in it so it has an overall affect)
Drugs are not good or bad - ANS ✔✔Drugs are chemicals on a shelf that remain inactive until entering
the body. Blaming the substance ignores all the factors that may lead to abuse. For example, Heroine is
an excellent painkiller if not abused
Drug - ANS ✔✔Any substance, natural or artificial, other than food, that by its chemical nature alters
structure or function in a living organism
Illicit Drug - ANS ✔✔A drug that is unlawful to possess or use
(think: "ill"licit = "ill"egal)
Deviant Drug Use - ANS ✔✔Drug use that is not common within a social group and is disapproved of by
the majority. (Ex: Someone trying meth while the rest of his friends continue to smoke weed)
Drug Misuse - ANS ✔✔Use of drugs or chemicals in greater amounts than, or for the purposes other
than, those prescribed by a doctor
Drug Abuse - ANS ✔✔Substance use in a matter, amount, or in situations such that it causes social,
occupational, psychological, or physical problems
Drug Dependence - ANS ✔✔A more precise term for addiction. It is a state in which an individual uses a
drug so frequently or consistently that it would be difficult for the person to stop. May or may not be
physiological. It is defined as a behavioral disorder.
Throughout History, drugs have been used for... - ANS ✔✔Enhancing spiritual experiences, Major
economic roles (wine, tobacco,) and treatment for illnesses.
, Monitoring the Future Project - ANS ✔✔A survey that gathers data from students from the 8th grade to
college students. It has been conducted annually for almost 40 years. The data they collect is on the
prevalence of drug use and the perceived risk and availability of various drugs.
National Survey on Drug Use and Health - ANS ✔✔A survey that gathers data from U.S. households (not
just students). It also consists of face-to-face interviews. Data is collected on anyone older than 12 years
old. The data collected is based on the prevalence of drug use and the frequency of drug use.This survey
has been conducted for over 40 years annually.
Correlates of Drug Use - ANS ✔✔Gender: Men use more drugs than women
Race: Whites are more likely to drink alcohol than African Americans
Level of Education: College graduates are less likely to smoke tobacco than high school graduates
Personality: Impulsive individuals may use drugs at a higher rate.
Genetics: genetics may play a role in who will develop a substance abuse disorder
Antecendent - ANS ✔✔A factor that occurs before an event such as the initiation of drug use. Not
necessarily the causes of the drug use.
Examples of antecedents are Aggressiveness, conduct problems, poor academic performance,
attachment to a drug-using peer group, parental and community norms that support drug use.
Gateway - ANS ✔✔One of the first drugs used by a typical drug user. Alcohol and tobacco are sometimes
considered gateway drugs. Gateway substances may not be the cause of future drug use. Gateway
substances are best thought of as "early indicators of a basic pattern of deviant behavior resulting from a
variety of risk factors
Motives for Drug Use - ANS ✔✔There are several influences of drug use:
1. Identification with a deviant subculture.
2. Rebelliousness
3. Fads and cultural trends
4. Reinforcing properties of drugs
5. Desire to experience an altered state
Problems related to taking the drug - ANS ✔✔Risk of developing drug dependence and risk of overdose
Problems related to drug use as deviant behavior - ANS ✔✔Risk of arrests, fines, jailing, expenses
associated with drug prevention and treatment.
Three Main Concerns for legalizing drugs - ANS ✔✔1. Toxicity (dangerous chemicals)
2. Dependence (habit-forming compounds)
3. Crime (Drug users become dangerous)
Physiological Toxicity - ANS ✔✔Acute: Short-term effects of a single dose. Ex: Prescription painkiller
overdose (the user stops breathing)
Chronic: Long-term effects from repeated use. Ex: High blood pressure, heart disease, lung cancer,
Cirrhosis.
Behavioral Toxicity - ANS ✔✔Acute: Short-term effect of a single dose on your behavior. Ex: Drunk
driving and/or intoxication that dangerously impairs behavioral functioning
