SUBSTANCE ABUSE PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
Which is the priority nursing diagnosis for an individual experiencing alcohol withdrawal?
A) Risk for injury
B) Impaired thought
C) Ineffective coping
D) Ineffective denial - Answer -A
Which rationale explains why a client requiring intervention for pain management should be assessed for
a history of substance abuse?
A) Narcotic pain medication is not permitted for clients with active substance-abuse problems.
B) Clients with certain substance addictions develop a higher tolerance to pain medications, thus may
require increased doses to achieve effective pain control.
C) Clients with an active substance-abuse disorder have a higher tolerance for pain, so
they should be given less medication to achieve effective pain control.
D) Clients who use substances should be encouraged to use non-pharmacologic alternative for pain
management because they are not permitted to take narcotics. - Answer -B
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate on the first day of alcohol detoxification?
A) Strongly encourage the client to attend two AA meetings.
B) Educate the client about the biopsychosocial consequences of alcohol abuse.
C) Administer Librium for withdrawal symptoms.
D) Ensure that the client consumes 95% of his or her meals. - Answer -C
A nurse working with substance-abuse clients evaluates which statement as a knowledge deficit?
A) "Although it's legal, alcohol is one of the most widely abused drugs in our society."
B) "Tolerance to heroin develops quickly, leaving the addict searching to achieve that first-time high."
C) "The effects of LSD, including flashbacks and hallucinations, may recur spontaneously weeks or
months afterward."
D) "Marijuana is like smoking cigarettes. Everyone does it. It's essentially harmless." - Answer -D
A recently divorced 43-year-old career woman suffering emotional .upheaval began drinking daily. After
losing her job due to her drinking problem, she received treatment for the acute stage of her illness and is
being discharged from the hospital. Which outpatient therapy should the nurse plan to discuss in the
discharge teaching?
A) Aversion therapy
B) Controlled drinking
C) Detoxification
D) Alcoholics Anonymous - Answer -D
Which term would the nurse utilize to describe a syndrome that occurs after stopping the use of a drug to
which one is addicted?
A) Codependence
B) Tolerance
C) Guilt
D) Withdrawal - Answer -D
Which client statement demonstrates positive progress towards recovery from substance abuse?
A) "I'm ready for discharge and feel better now."
B) "I don't need to be here with these crazy people."
C) ''I only used the pills to be able to sleep."
"Taking those pills got out of control. It cost me my job, my marriage, and my children." - Answer -D
ANSWERS
Which is the priority nursing diagnosis for an individual experiencing alcohol withdrawal?
A) Risk for injury
B) Impaired thought
C) Ineffective coping
D) Ineffective denial - Answer -A
Which rationale explains why a client requiring intervention for pain management should be assessed for
a history of substance abuse?
A) Narcotic pain medication is not permitted for clients with active substance-abuse problems.
B) Clients with certain substance addictions develop a higher tolerance to pain medications, thus may
require increased doses to achieve effective pain control.
C) Clients with an active substance-abuse disorder have a higher tolerance for pain, so
they should be given less medication to achieve effective pain control.
D) Clients who use substances should be encouraged to use non-pharmacologic alternative for pain
management because they are not permitted to take narcotics. - Answer -B
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate on the first day of alcohol detoxification?
A) Strongly encourage the client to attend two AA meetings.
B) Educate the client about the biopsychosocial consequences of alcohol abuse.
C) Administer Librium for withdrawal symptoms.
D) Ensure that the client consumes 95% of his or her meals. - Answer -C
A nurse working with substance-abuse clients evaluates which statement as a knowledge deficit?
A) "Although it's legal, alcohol is one of the most widely abused drugs in our society."
B) "Tolerance to heroin develops quickly, leaving the addict searching to achieve that first-time high."
C) "The effects of LSD, including flashbacks and hallucinations, may recur spontaneously weeks or
months afterward."
D) "Marijuana is like smoking cigarettes. Everyone does it. It's essentially harmless." - Answer -D
A recently divorced 43-year-old career woman suffering emotional .upheaval began drinking daily. After
losing her job due to her drinking problem, she received treatment for the acute stage of her illness and is
being discharged from the hospital. Which outpatient therapy should the nurse plan to discuss in the
discharge teaching?
A) Aversion therapy
B) Controlled drinking
C) Detoxification
D) Alcoholics Anonymous - Answer -D
Which term would the nurse utilize to describe a syndrome that occurs after stopping the use of a drug to
which one is addicted?
A) Codependence
B) Tolerance
C) Guilt
D) Withdrawal - Answer -D
Which client statement demonstrates positive progress towards recovery from substance abuse?
A) "I'm ready for discharge and feel better now."
B) "I don't need to be here with these crazy people."
C) ''I only used the pills to be able to sleep."
"Taking those pills got out of control. It cost me my job, my marriage, and my children." - Answer -D
