Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Dependency
1)
How is alcoholism (alcohol use disorder) generally defined?
2)
Approximately how many deaths worldwide are attributed each year to drug use disorders?
3)
In the U.S., about how many Americans ages 12 and older met criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder in the past year according to the 2023 NSDUH?
4)
Which of the following is a common co-morbid condition that frequently complicates treatment for individuals with substance use disorders?
5)
What is one major societal consequence of high rates of drug use in neighborhoods?
6)
Approximately how much does alcohol misuse alone cost the U.S. economy each year?
7)
Where was the earliest evidence of fermented beverage production discovered, dating back to around 7000 BCE?
8)
Which ancient civilization worshipped Ninkasi, the goddess of brewing?
9)
What action did the Roman Senate take in 186 BCE due to concerns about public disorder from Bacchanalian cults?
10)
What public health crisis did London experience between 1695 and 1751 due to cheap, adulterated spirits?
11)
Which 19th-century movement emphasized peer support and storytelling, resembling early 12-step principles?
12)
What U.S. law enforced the national ban on alcoholic beverages after the 18th Amendment was ratified?
13)
Which brain pathway did neurobiological research identify as being altered by chronic substance use, supporting the disease model of addiction?
14)
What was one major unintended consequence of the U.S. “War on Drugs” policies of the 1970s and 1980s?
15)
Which country decriminalized personal possession of all drugs in 2001 and redirected users toward treatment rather than incarceration?
16)
What do family, twin, and adoption studies suggest about the heritability of substance use disorders?
17)
Which gene has been most studied for its role in addiction due to its link with dopamine receptor density?
18)
What role does the extended amygdala play in addiction and relapse?
19)
According to cognitive-behavioral theories, what often drives the cycle of substance use?
20)
In the CBT model of addiction, which step follows a distorted thought such as ‘One drink won’t hurt’?
21)
What was Lena’s core belief in the vignette that fueled her reinforcement cycle of drinking wine?
22)
From a psychodynamic perspective, addiction is best understood as:
23)
According to Khantzian’s Self-Medication Hypothesis, what motivates people to choose specific substances?
24)
In the casevignette, why did Anthony rely on alcohol for many years?
25)
From an object relations perspective, what do substances often function as for people with early attachment wounds?
26)
In the case vignette, why did Samantha describe alcohol as feeling like ‘a friend waiting for me at the end of the day’?
27)
Which concept from learning theory best explains why Mark experienced intense cravings when passing the pub after work on Friday nights?
28)
According to Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, how do many people first learn about substance use?
29)
How can clinicians apply Social Learning Theory in recovery work?
30)
In Jordan’s case vignette, what was the main reason he started drinking?
31)
From a family systems perspective, addiction is best understood as:
32)
In addicted families, what role is typically characterized by perfectionism, overachievement, and fear of failure?
33)
What is meant by the term “intergenerational transmission” in the context of addiction?
34)
Why do many adolescents or young adults begin using substances in peer settings?
35)
Which major change did DSM-5 (2013) introduce regarding substance use disorders?
36)
Which of the following is an example of an intervention targeting perceived norms around substance use?
37)
According to sociocultural theories, what makes cultural messages so influential in shaping substance use?
38)
In cultures where heavy episodic drinking is tolerated or celebrated, how might individuals who drink heavily perceive their behavior?
39)
What effect do higher alcohol taxes typically have on consumption, especially among young people?
40)
What is the primary difference in focus between the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11?
41)
How did the DSM-5-TR change the way substance problems are categorized compared to earlier editions?
42)
According to DSM-5-TR, how many symptoms must be present within a 12-month period to diagnose a mild substance use disorder?
43)
How did the DSM-I (1952) and DSM-II (1968) describe substance-related problems?
44)
What was the key innovation of the DSM-III (1980) in diagnosing substance use?
45)
Approaches in motivational interviewing include all of the following, except:
46)
Why are structured interviews like the SCID-5 valuable in assessing substance use disorders?
47)
In Carlos’s vignette, what was the significance of using both the AUDIT and DAST-10 screeners?
48)
What is one advantage of dual coding a client’s diagnosis in both DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 formats?
49)
What does the term “comorbidity” (or dual diagnosis) mean in the context of substance use disorders?
50)
Approximately how many U.S. adults experienced both a mental illness and a substance use disorder in 2022?
51)
Why is integrated care (treating both conditions together) recommended for clients with comorbidity?
52)
How can clinicians distinguish between primary depression and substance-induced depression in clients with both conditions?
53)
What treatment risk must medical personnel be cautious about when prescribing benzodiazepines to clients with anxiety disorders and SUDs?
54)
Why do PTSD and substance use so often co-occur?
55)
Why is diagnosing bipolar disorder with co-occurring substance use often difficult for clinicians?
56)
What is the first priority in treating clients with both bipolar disorder and substance use disorder?
57)
How can clinicians distinguish substance-induced psychosis from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders?
58)
What happens to the risk of substance use disorder (SUD) when ADHD is left untreated?
59)
Which ADHD medication approach is preferred when substance misuse risk is high?
60)
Which therapy is specifically adapted for clients with both borderline personality disorder (BPD) and substance use?
61)
What dangerous trend sometimes occurs in young adults with eating disorders?
62)
Which treatment is considered the gold standard for chronic insomnia in clients with substance use history?
63)
Why is suicide assessment essential in substance use disorder treatment?
64)
Which brain structure is most directly responsible for self-control and decision-making, and is impaired by chronic substance use?
65)
Why does stress often trigger relapse in people with substance use disorders?
66)
Which brain region explains why environmental cues—like the smell of a bar—can spark cravings even years later?
67)
Long-term alcohol use can damage prefrontal circuits, leading to which common difficulty?
68)
Neuroimaging studies from 2023–2025 consistently show what about individuals with a history of substance use?
69)
Which DSM-5-TR alcohol use disorder criterion is illustrated by Maria’s repeated pattern of drinking more and longer than she intended?
70)
David repeatedly tries to limit his alcohol use to weekends but fails. Which diagnostic criterion does his story best represent?
71)
Samantha plans her weekends around drinking, with alcohol dominating both her activities and recovery time. Which criterion does this demonstrate?
72)
Globally, harmful alcohol use accounts for how many deaths each year, according to WHO (2023)?
73)
Why are adolescents and young adults at particularly high risk for alcohol-related harms?
74)
Compared to men, women face sharper health consequences from alcohol at lower levels of drinking because:
75)
Why are screening tools like the AUDIT, CAGE, and MAST considered essential in detecting alcohol misuse?
76)
What is one limitation of the CAGE screening tool identified in recent studies (2023–2024)?
77)
Why does the MAST remain especially useful in older adults compared to newer screening tools?
78)
Which receptor do opioids primarily bind to in order to relieve pain and create euphoria?
79)
According to the CDC (2024), fentanyl is now implicated in what percentage of opioid overdose deaths in the United States?
80)
What primary brain systems do stimulants like cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription amphetamines activate?