Addiction Studies Midterm

Put the following in the correct order to describe the process of neural transmission at a synapse: 1. Neurotransmitter binds to the receptor on the postsynaptic neuron 2. Vesicles from the presynaptic neuron release their neurotransmitter into the synapse 3. The action potential comes down the presynaptic neuron 4. The postsynaptic cell fires

3,2,1,4

Binge drinking is associated with alcohol problems and is defined as?

5+ drinks for men at one sitting, 4+ drinks for women

Which is option is true about the sympathetic nervous system? It is part of the central nervous system It increases heart rate Its actions are increased by cocaine A and B are correct B and C are correct

A and B are correct

Which of the following affects drug absorption? Whether it is fat soluble or water soluble The pH of the drug The drug's route of administration A&B only A, B, C

A, B, C

Stimulant abuse can cause which of the following physical symptoms (circle the letter of correct answer)? Rapid heart rate Strokes Paranoia All of the above (a-c) are correct None of the above are correct

All of the above (a-c) are correct

Which of the following top five causes of death in the U.S. have been linked to substance abuse? Cancers Heart Disease Accidents All of the above answers (a-c) are correct None of the above answers are correct

All of the above answers (a-c) are correct

How does the World Health Organization (WHO) define a drug? Any chemical entity or mixture of entities, other than those required for the maintenance of normal health, the administration of which alters biological function and possibly structure. Any substance that alters physiological or psychological functioning. Chemical substances which have been determined to cause harm in those who use them or who come in contact with those who use them. Substances or activities which alter the user's emotional state. Substances that have addictive properties

Any chemical entity or mixture of entities, other than those required for the maintenance of normal health, the administration of which alters biological function and possibly structure.

Which is not a reason that barbiturates are more dangerous than benzodiazepines? Barbiturates are typically inhaled while benzodiazepines are consumed orally Benzodiazepines are absorbed into the bloodstream more slowly than barbiturates Barbiturates are more fat-soluble than benzodiazepines are The GABA receptors that control respiration and other vegetative processes do not have many benzodiazepines sites None of the above are reasons that contribute to the greater risk of barbiturates

Barbiturates are typically inhaled while benzodiazepines are consumed orally

Why is it dangerous to combine an opioid with a drug like alcohol, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines? Because it is a combination of licit and illicit drugs Because they increase heart rate and respiration and can cause a heart attack Because the combination of depressants increases the potential for respiratory depression, overdose, and death Because they increase the potential of the user's becoming chemically dependent Because the combination cancels out the effects of each individual drug and leads to greater use

Because the combination of depressants increases the potential for respiratory depression, overdose, and death

Which one of the following would increase the effect of a neurotransmitter at the synapse? Block reuptake of the neurotransmitter Block postsynaptic receptors Decreasing the release of the neurotransmitter Increase the activity of the enzymes which break down the neurotransmitter Decrease the synthesis of the neurotransmitter

Block the reuptake of the neurotransmitter

On which part of the body does long-term use of stimulants (e.g., nicotine, cocaine, and methamphetamine) have the most significant impact? Cardiovascular system Skeletal system Muscular system Digestive system None of the above body systems are affected by stimulant use

Cardiovascular system

Which of these is the name for the liver damage that occurs in chronic heavy drinkers? Cirrhosis Delirium tremens Korsakoff's syndrome Cardiomyopathy Wernicke's encephalopathy

Cirrhosis

Which of the following statements best describes the effects that depressants have on the body due to its effects on the central nervous system? Depressants increase rate of breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate Depressants decrease rate of breathing and heart rate Depressants cause muscle rigidity and cramping Depressants make people excited and alert None of the above describe the effects of depressants

Depressants DECREASE rate of breathing and heart rate

Which of the following is not an acute effect of smoking? Increased blood pressure Suppressed appetite Dilation of blood vessels of hands, feet, and skin Decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood

Dilation of blood vessels of hands, feet, and skin

Which of the following statements regarding acute alcohol use is true? Drinking does not reduce acute anxiety in social situations Drinking causes most everyone to become aggressive after a few drinks Alcohol improves physical sexual performance Drinking is effective in changing ones mood Drinking may help someone fall sleep, but will negatively affect sleep quality

Drinking may help someone fall sleep, but will negatively affect sleep quality

A drug with a therapeutic index of 5 is safer than a drug with a therapeutic index of 500.

False

Americans use drugs at similar rates to the rest of the world.

False

At the cellular level, alcohol acts on only a few specific types of cells.

False

Chronic opioid use directly contributes to profound physical tissue damage.

False

Dopamine is rarely affected when people become addicted to drugs.

False

Due to the health benefits of low or moderate alcohol use, the scientific evidence is conclusive people who abstain should take up drinking.

False

Glutamate is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain.

False

It is impossible to overdose on nicotine.

False

Of all the stimulants, the most likely to result in physical and mental dependence is methamphetamine.

False

Schedule II drugs have no approved medical use in the United States.

False

The effects of drugs with a long half-life are felt for shorter periods of time compared to drugs with a short half-life

False

The more severe a country's drug laws, the less drug use there is in that country.

False

The number of people in the United States who overdose on heroin is greater than the number who overdose on all other types of opioids, including hydrocodone oxycodone, and methadone.

False

The rate of alcohol absorption is relatively stable at .015 BAC per hour, however the rate of alcohol metabolism varies significantly across individuals and situations.

False

There is no biological basis supporting the general idea that males tend to be less effected by the acute effects of alcohol than females.

False

There is no such thing as psychological dependence

False

Professor Bunson T. Honeydew has developed a new drug. It increases sleep, acts as a muscle relaxant, reduces anxiety, and slows heart rate. At high enough doses it may depress respiration. Which neurotransmitter does it most likely affect? Anandamide Dopamine GABA Norepinephrine Serotonin

GABA

Which of the following does not relate to pharmacokinetics? The route of administration Distribution of the drug The activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes How well a drug binds to a synaptic receptor Elimination rate in urine/feces

How well a drug binds to a synaptic receptor

Which of the following statements is true? Humankind has always had a desire to alter individual states of consciousness regardless of the potential for damage Alcoholism and drug abuse are relatively new social problems (i.e. only in the past 50 years). The impact of drug and alcohol abuse does not extend beyond the individuals using drugs/alcohol Drug policies that restrict access to substances immediately reduce violence. Scientific research has shown that addiction is a matter of weak moral character.

Humankind has always had a desire to alter individual states of consciousness regardless of the potential for damage

Which of the following statements is false regarding elimination of alcohol? The majority (90%) of alcohol absorbed into the body is broken down into inert metabolites In its pure form, alcohol is excreted only through urine An enzyme in the liver, alcohol dehydrogenase, is largely responsible for the metabolism of alcohol Acetaldehyde is a toxic by product of alcohol metabolism which can cause flushing and nausea All of the above statements are false

In its pure form, alcohol is excreted only through urine

Which route of administration gets a drug to the brain fastest? Injection Oral ingestion Inhalation Mucous membrane absorption Transdermal

Inhalation

Which of the following is not a medical reason for opioids such a morphine or heroin? Cough suppressant Causes constipation Relieves pain Local anesthetic None of the above are medical reasons for opioid use

Local anesthetic

Which of the following is true about addiction science? Addictions have been investigated scientifically for over 300 years Many beliefs held by the public about addictive behaviors are significantly out of date Basic scientific principles are not helpful to understand addictions All of the above (a-c) are correct None of the above are correct

Many beliefs held by the public about addictive behaviors are significantly out of date

Which of the following statements is true? Most heroin abusers began by abusing prescription opioids Opioid use is much more prevalent in inner cities than rural areas OxyContin affects the body in ways that are entirely different from heroin Making prescription drugs available over the counter would reduce their abuse potential All of the above statements are true

Most heroin abusers began by abusing prescription opioids

The biopsychosocial model of addiction states: The cause of addiction can be attributed to a single cause, but that cause may vary from person to person Addiction is due to a flaw in a person's character leads to unwillingness to moderate one's substance use The cause of addiction is due to the biological properties psychoactive substance resulting the inability to control one's use Addiction is a result of a progressive incurable a medical disease None of the above describe the biopsychosocial model

None of the above describe the biopsychosocial model.

Which of the following does not affect the metabolism of drugs? Genetic factors Age Other drugs or foods taken at the same time Options A and C affect metabolism but option B does not Options A, B, & C affect the metabolism of drugs

Options A, B, & C affect the metabolism of drugs

Which form and method of using cocaine produces the most intense immediate high? smoking crack cocaine chewing pure coca leaves snorting powdered cocaine ingestion of cocaine in a beverage ingestion of cocaine in powdered form

Smoking crack cocaine

Which of the following is accurate about the typical BAC curve? Peak subjective (i.e. perceived) intoxication is greater than actual peak BAC The ascending and descending limbs of the BAC curve are pretty much equal in terms of duration of time The ascending limb of the BAC curve is steeper than the descending limb of the BAC curve Perceived peak intoxication occurs after actual peak BAC On average, peak BAC is reached within 10 minutes after stopping drinking

The ascending limb of the BAC curve is steeper than the descending limb of the BAC curve

Which of the following statements is inaccurate regarding cigarettes/tobacco? Single greatest cause of premature death worldwide Cigarette use in the U.S. has been declining consistently over the last few decades In addition to tobacco, cigarettes contain numerous chemical additives, many of which are toxic The evidence is conclusive that electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are an effective harm reduction strategy The effects of secondhand smoke are often under recognized and cause significant problems for nonsmokers

The evidence is conclusive that electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are an effective harm reduction strategy

Amphetamines are currently more popular in the United States than is cocaine.

True

Amphetamines are more potent than cocaine in part due to the fact they act via multiple synaptic mechanisms (block re-uptake, stimulate release, inhibit MAO activity) rather than a single mechanism.

True

An axon carries the electrical signal of a neuron.

True

Caffeine is the world's most commonly used psychoactive drug.

True

Females use prescriptions sedative/hypnotics more than males.

True

Generally, parts of the body that receive the most blood, such as the liver, kidney, heart, lungs, and brain, will have the highest concentration of the drug

True

Human beings have naturally-occurring (endogenous) opioids, which cause many of the same effects as those caused by taking opioid drugs (exogenous).

True

In general, psychoactive substances easily pass through the blood-brain and placental barriers

True

Major alcohol withdrawal symptoms can develop within as short time as 7 consecutive weeks of heavy drinking.

True

People who use opioids are at risk for developing intense tolerance and physical dependence.

True

Policy decisions regarding drugs and alcohol often have been made based on the political climate rather than on the health effects of drugs on the individual and society

True

Some people who have problems with substances earlier in life are able to control their substance use later in life.

True

The limbic system of the brain controls emotions.

True

The somatic, autonomic, sympathetic, and parasympathetic nervous systems are all considered part of the peripheral nervous system.

True

Which is an example of behavioral tolerance? When a chronic, heavy drinker is tolerant to Xanax, even though they've never taken Xanax before When a person who smokes marijuana regularly can "handle themselves" high better than they could the first time they got high When someone who regularly uses morphine has a decrease in the number of opioid receptors When a chronic, heavy drinker produces more liver enzymes that metabolize alcohol When over a night of drinking, a person feels more intoxicated at a 0.1 BAC at the beginning of the night than at 0.1 BAC toward the end of the night

When a person who smokes marijuana regularly can "handle themselves" high better than they could the first time they got high

A psychoactive drug is defined as: any substance that is illicit or illegal any substance that can make a person psychotic any substance that directly alters the normal functioning of the brain those substances that cause numbness and drowsiness those substances that cause increased energy and alertness

any substance that directly alters the normal functioning of the brain