SOWK 260 Final Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
Hallucinogens - Answers Substances that cause perceptual distortions, altered states of
consciousness, and hallucinations.
Addiction - Answers A chronic condition characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued
use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain.
Depressants - Answers Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow down body functions, often
used to relieve anxiety or induce sleep.
Stimulants - Answers Substances that increase neural activity and elevate mood, energy, and
alertness.
Tolerance - Answers A condition in which a person requires increasingly larger doses of a
substance to achieve the same effect due to repeated use.
Withdrawal - Answers A set of symptoms that occur when a person reduces or stops intake of a
substance they are dependent on.
Dependence - Answers A state in which the body adapts to a substance, leading to withdrawal
symptoms when not using it.
Difference between addiction and dependence - Answers Addiction involves compulsive
behavior and loss of control over substance use, while dependence refers to the physiological
adaptation to a substance.
Opioids - Answers A class of drugs that include both legal prescription pain relievers and illegal
drugs, known for their pain-relieving properties and potential for addiction.
Dopamine - Answers A neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the brain's reward system,
influencing pleasure and motivation.
Serotonin - Answers A neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness,
and regulates mood, sleep, and appetite.
Hippocampus - Answers A brain region involved in the formation of new memories and is also
associated with learning and emotions.
Neurons - Answers The basic building blocks of the nervous system, specialized cells that
transmit information throughout the body.
Synapses - Answers The junctions between neurons where communication occurs through the
release of neurotransmitters.
Different routes of drug intake/administration - Answers Methods by which drugs are
introduced into the body, including oral, intravenous, inhalation, and transdermal.
, What are neurotransmitters? - Answers Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that
transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another, playing a key role in
communication within the nervous system.
What do neurotransmitters do? - Answers Neurotransmitters facilitate the transmission of
signals in the brain and throughout the nervous system, influencing various functions such as
mood, sleep, and cognition.
Where does a drug go after administration? - Answers After administration, a drug enters the
bloodstream and is distributed throughout the body, where it can interact with various tissues
and organs to exert its effects.
How are drugs broken down in the body? - Answers Drugs are metabolized primarily in the liver,
where enzymes convert them into metabolites, which can then be excreted by the kidneys or
eliminated through other pathways.
What processes do drugs go through in the body? - Answers Drugs typically undergo four main
processes: absorption (entry into the bloodstream), distribution (transport to tissues),
metabolism (chemical alteration), and excretion (removal from the body).
Liver and kidney drug metabolism - Answers The liver and kidneys are crucial organs for
metabolizing and excreting drugs. The liver processes drugs through enzymatic reactions, while
the kidneys filter and eliminate drug metabolites from the bloodstream.
What is the rebound effect? - Answers The rebound effect refers to the return of symptoms,
often more intense than before, after the discontinuation of a drug that was used to alleviate
those symptoms.
Neurological effects of drugs - Answers Drugs can cause various neurological effects, including
strokes, paranoia, anxiety, and other mental health issues, often due to their impact on
neurotransmitter systems in the brain.
How quickly do drugs enter the body? - Answers The speed at which a drug enters the body
varies by route of administration; for example, intravenous drugs enter the bloodstream almost
immediately, while oral drugs may take longer due to digestion and absorption processes.
Dose Response - Answers The relationship between the amount of a drug or substance
administered and the magnitude of the biological effect it produces.
Half-Life - Answers The time required for the concentration of a substance in the body to reduce
to half its initial value.
Therapeutic Window - Answers The range of dosages of a drug that provides effective
treatment without causing significant adverse effects.
EC50 - Answers The concentration of a drug that produces 50% of its maximum effect.
Hallucinogens - Answers Substances that cause perceptual distortions, altered states of
consciousness, and hallucinations.
Addiction - Answers A chronic condition characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued
use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain.
Depressants - Answers Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow down body functions, often
used to relieve anxiety or induce sleep.
Stimulants - Answers Substances that increase neural activity and elevate mood, energy, and
alertness.
Tolerance - Answers A condition in which a person requires increasingly larger doses of a
substance to achieve the same effect due to repeated use.
Withdrawal - Answers A set of symptoms that occur when a person reduces or stops intake of a
substance they are dependent on.
Dependence - Answers A state in which the body adapts to a substance, leading to withdrawal
symptoms when not using it.
Difference between addiction and dependence - Answers Addiction involves compulsive
behavior and loss of control over substance use, while dependence refers to the physiological
adaptation to a substance.
Opioids - Answers A class of drugs that include both legal prescription pain relievers and illegal
drugs, known for their pain-relieving properties and potential for addiction.
Dopamine - Answers A neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the brain's reward system,
influencing pleasure and motivation.
Serotonin - Answers A neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness,
and regulates mood, sleep, and appetite.
Hippocampus - Answers A brain region involved in the formation of new memories and is also
associated with learning and emotions.
Neurons - Answers The basic building blocks of the nervous system, specialized cells that
transmit information throughout the body.
Synapses - Answers The junctions between neurons where communication occurs through the
release of neurotransmitters.
Different routes of drug intake/administration - Answers Methods by which drugs are
introduced into the body, including oral, intravenous, inhalation, and transdermal.
, What are neurotransmitters? - Answers Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that
transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another, playing a key role in
communication within the nervous system.
What do neurotransmitters do? - Answers Neurotransmitters facilitate the transmission of
signals in the brain and throughout the nervous system, influencing various functions such as
mood, sleep, and cognition.
Where does a drug go after administration? - Answers After administration, a drug enters the
bloodstream and is distributed throughout the body, where it can interact with various tissues
and organs to exert its effects.
How are drugs broken down in the body? - Answers Drugs are metabolized primarily in the liver,
where enzymes convert them into metabolites, which can then be excreted by the kidneys or
eliminated through other pathways.
What processes do drugs go through in the body? - Answers Drugs typically undergo four main
processes: absorption (entry into the bloodstream), distribution (transport to tissues),
metabolism (chemical alteration), and excretion (removal from the body).
Liver and kidney drug metabolism - Answers The liver and kidneys are crucial organs for
metabolizing and excreting drugs. The liver processes drugs through enzymatic reactions, while
the kidneys filter and eliminate drug metabolites from the bloodstream.
What is the rebound effect? - Answers The rebound effect refers to the return of symptoms,
often more intense than before, after the discontinuation of a drug that was used to alleviate
those symptoms.
Neurological effects of drugs - Answers Drugs can cause various neurological effects, including
strokes, paranoia, anxiety, and other mental health issues, often due to their impact on
neurotransmitter systems in the brain.
How quickly do drugs enter the body? - Answers The speed at which a drug enters the body
varies by route of administration; for example, intravenous drugs enter the bloodstream almost
immediately, while oral drugs may take longer due to digestion and absorption processes.
Dose Response - Answers The relationship between the amount of a drug or substance
administered and the magnitude of the biological effect it produces.
Half-Life - Answers The time required for the concentration of a substance in the body to reduce
to half its initial value.
Therapeutic Window - Answers The range of dosages of a drug that provides effective
treatment without causing significant adverse effects.
EC50 - Answers The concentration of a drug that produces 50% of its maximum effect.
