NR546 WEEK 6 SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER | 2026/2027
NURSING STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
1. What are the key characteristics that define Substance Use Disorder (SUD)?
Clinically significant impairment, including health problems and
failure to meet responsibilities.
Increased tolerance to substances and withdrawal symptoms.
Compulsive behavior and mood swings.
Social withdrawal and changes in appetite.
2. Comorbidities are common with SUD and include which of the following
common co-occuring conditions:
IBS, cardiac arrythmia, seizure disorder
heart disease, chronic pain, uncontrolled diabetes
chronic pain, dementia, poverty
depression, anxiety, bipolar, ADHD
3. If a patient is experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms after quitting
smoking, what treatment option might be recommended to ease their
transition?
Complete cessation of all nicotine products
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Use of recreational drugs
Increased smoking frequency
4. What is a key characteristic of Opioid Use Disorder?
, Use of opioids only in a medical setting.
Occasional use of opioids for pain relief.
Temporary use of opioids without significant effects.
Chronic use of opioids that causes clinically significant distress or
impairment.
5. In a scenario where a patient is prescribed Buprenorphine for opioid
dependence, how would the inclusion of Naloxone in their treatment plan be
beneficial?
It has no impact on the treatment plan for opioid dependence.
It deters misuse of Buprenorphine by blocking the euphoric effects
of opioids.
It increases the effectiveness of Buprenorphine in treating opioid
dependence.
It allows for higher doses of Buprenorphine to be administered safely.
6. Which of the following best represents the involvement of epigenetics in the
progression to addiction?
Environmental stimuli → acute drug exposure → epigenetic
changes → modified gene expression → repeated drug
exposure/addiction
Environmental stimuli → acute drug exposure → repeated drug
exposure/addiction → modified gene expression → epigenetic
changes
Environmental stimuli → modified gene expression → acute drug
exposure → repeated drug exposure/addiction → epigenetic
changes
, Acute drug exposure → environmental stimuli → modified gene
expression → epigenetic changes → repeated drug
exposure/addiction
7. What are two specific medical conditions that contraindicate the use of
Nicotine Replacement Therapy?
Diabetes and hypertension.
Anxiety and depression.
Recent myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
8. Which of the following includes a list of FDA-approved medications to treat
alcohol use disorder?
Acamprosate, varenicline, disulfiram
Gabapentin, clonidine, bupropion
Naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram
Nortriptyline, topiramate, clonidine
9. If an individual with Substance Use Disorder is unable to maintain their job
due to substance use, what aspect of SUD are they experiencing?
Increased productivity
Enhanced well-being
Improved relationships
Significant impairment
10. What factors contribute to identifying high-risk clients for overdose in
substance use treatment?
, Low-dose pain management, no previous overdose history, recent
substance use, and only using opioids.
Short-term pain management, no history of substance use, and
mixing alcohol with opioids.
High-dose long-term pain management, previous overdose history,
recent abstinence, mixing opioids with other substances.
Only those with a history of mental health disorders.
11. If people have unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms when they
suddenly stop taking a substance, they are experiencing:
withdrawal
substance intoxication
substance abuse
tolerance
12. If a researcher discovers a new epigenetic modification linked to addiction,
how might this finding influence treatment strategies for Substance Use
Disorder?
It would indicate that only medication is necessary for treatment.
It would have no effect on treatment strategies.
It could lead to personalized treatment approaches based on
genetic susceptibility.
It would suggest that all patients should receive the same treatment.
13. Describe how tolerance can impact the treatment of individuals with
Substance Use Disorder.
Tolerance only affects the psychological aspects of addiction.
NURSING STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
1. What are the key characteristics that define Substance Use Disorder (SUD)?
Clinically significant impairment, including health problems and
failure to meet responsibilities.
Increased tolerance to substances and withdrawal symptoms.
Compulsive behavior and mood swings.
Social withdrawal and changes in appetite.
2. Comorbidities are common with SUD and include which of the following
common co-occuring conditions:
IBS, cardiac arrythmia, seizure disorder
heart disease, chronic pain, uncontrolled diabetes
chronic pain, dementia, poverty
depression, anxiety, bipolar, ADHD
3. If a patient is experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms after quitting
smoking, what treatment option might be recommended to ease their
transition?
Complete cessation of all nicotine products
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Use of recreational drugs
Increased smoking frequency
4. What is a key characteristic of Opioid Use Disorder?
, Use of opioids only in a medical setting.
Occasional use of opioids for pain relief.
Temporary use of opioids without significant effects.
Chronic use of opioids that causes clinically significant distress or
impairment.
5. In a scenario where a patient is prescribed Buprenorphine for opioid
dependence, how would the inclusion of Naloxone in their treatment plan be
beneficial?
It has no impact on the treatment plan for opioid dependence.
It deters misuse of Buprenorphine by blocking the euphoric effects
of opioids.
It increases the effectiveness of Buprenorphine in treating opioid
dependence.
It allows for higher doses of Buprenorphine to be administered safely.
6. Which of the following best represents the involvement of epigenetics in the
progression to addiction?
Environmental stimuli → acute drug exposure → epigenetic
changes → modified gene expression → repeated drug
exposure/addiction
Environmental stimuli → acute drug exposure → repeated drug
exposure/addiction → modified gene expression → epigenetic
changes
Environmental stimuli → modified gene expression → acute drug
exposure → repeated drug exposure/addiction → epigenetic
changes
, Acute drug exposure → environmental stimuli → modified gene
expression → epigenetic changes → repeated drug
exposure/addiction
7. What are two specific medical conditions that contraindicate the use of
Nicotine Replacement Therapy?
Diabetes and hypertension.
Anxiety and depression.
Recent myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
8. Which of the following includes a list of FDA-approved medications to treat
alcohol use disorder?
Acamprosate, varenicline, disulfiram
Gabapentin, clonidine, bupropion
Naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram
Nortriptyline, topiramate, clonidine
9. If an individual with Substance Use Disorder is unable to maintain their job
due to substance use, what aspect of SUD are they experiencing?
Increased productivity
Enhanced well-being
Improved relationships
Significant impairment
10. What factors contribute to identifying high-risk clients for overdose in
substance use treatment?
, Low-dose pain management, no previous overdose history, recent
substance use, and only using opioids.
Short-term pain management, no history of substance use, and
mixing alcohol with opioids.
High-dose long-term pain management, previous overdose history,
recent abstinence, mixing opioids with other substances.
Only those with a history of mental health disorders.
11. If people have unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms when they
suddenly stop taking a substance, they are experiencing:
withdrawal
substance intoxication
substance abuse
tolerance
12. If a researcher discovers a new epigenetic modification linked to addiction,
how might this finding influence treatment strategies for Substance Use
Disorder?
It would indicate that only medication is necessary for treatment.
It would have no effect on treatment strategies.
It could lead to personalized treatment approaches based on
genetic susceptibility.
It would suggest that all patients should receive the same treatment.
13. Describe how tolerance can impact the treatment of individuals with
Substance Use Disorder.
Tolerance only affects the psychological aspects of addiction.
