Question 1

Judd has been drinking heavily for a number of years. When he is not drinking, he experiences profuse sweating and shakes. This indicates that Judd

Accepted Answer

Judd's symptoms of sweating and shakes when not drinking indicate that he is experiencing withdrawal symptoms when he abstains from alcohol. This suggests that he has developed a dependence on alcohol and may need professional help to quit drinking safely.

Question 2

The typical course of alcohol-related disorder

Accepted Answer

While the course of alcohol-related disorder can vary from person to person, it often progresses from early to late stage disorder. This progression may be gradual or rapid, and individuals may cycle in and out of stages of disorder. Physical problems may increase over time as well. It is important to note that abstinence and recovery are possible at any stage of disorder.

Question 3

Which of the following best explains why women tend to not "hold their booze" as well as men?

Accepted Answer

Women's bodies have less of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which metabolizes alcohol. This means that alcohol remains in their system longer, leading to a more rapid rise in blood alcohol content and an increased risk of alcohol-related harm.

Question 4

Of the following, who is most likely to be an alcoholic?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that males are more likely to develop alcohol use disorders than females. Additionally, individuals with personality disorders have higher rates of substance abuse, including alcoholism. The other factors (no criminal history, having children) do not necessarily increase the likelihood of being an alcoholic.

Question 5

Observed changes in drinking patterns suggest that in the future

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that in recent years, the gender gap in drinking patterns has been narrowing, with women drinking more and men drinking less. Therefore, the ratio of male to female problem drinkers is likely to decrease in the future. There is no evidence to suggest that the proportion of blacks that are problem drinkers will either increase or decrease.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a misconception about alcohol?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol can indeed interfere with sleep, making it a fact rather than a misconception.

Question 7

Henry used to become intoxicated after six drinks. Now he needs ten or twelve to get the same effect. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of tolerance, where the body has adapted to the substance and requires a higher dose to achieve the same effect.

Question 8

Passing out from a high blood level of alcohol

Accepted Answer

Passing out from a high blood level of alcohol may actually be a safety device. It is the body's way of shutting down and preventing the person from drinking more alcohol, which could lead to potentially fatal alcohol poisoning.

Question 9

Cirrhosis of the liver

Accepted Answer

Cirrhosis of the liver is caused by long-term, excessive alcohol consumption which overworks the liver trying to process and metabolize large amounts of alcohol. It is not rare and can be a serious and potentially fatal condition. There is no evidence to suggest that it is due to an allergic-type reaction to alcohol.

Question 10

Why does it make sense to view addiction as a mental disorder?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms reflect behaviors that involve the pathological need for a substance

Question 11

Which of the following is a consequence of organic impairment resulting from long- term substance use, as opposed to being a consequence of drug toxicity?

Accepted Answer

Organic impairment resulting from long-term substance use can lead to Alcohol amnestic disorder or Korsakoff syndrome, which is caused by a thiamine deficiency resulting in brain damage. This is different from drug toxicity, which is the direct effect of drug use on the body and can cause acute symptoms such as Alcoholic intoxication, Amphetamine delusional disorder or Cannabis delirium.

Question 12

Which mental disorder is most commonly comorbid with alcoholism?

Accepted Answer

Major depressive disorder is the most commonly comorbid mental disorder with alcoholism, as individuals with alcohol use disorder often experience depressive symptoms.

Question 13

Unlike psychoactive substance abuse, psychoactive substance dependence usually involves

Accepted Answer

Psychoactive substance dependence involves physiological symptoms such as tolerance and withdrawal, whereas abuse does not necessarily involve these symptoms.

Question 14

At low levels, alcohol's effect on the brain is ; at higher levels, alcohol's effect is .

Accepted Answer

At low levels, alcohol has a depressive effect on the brain. This is because it enhances the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that slows down brain activity. At higher levels, however, alcohol's effects become excitatory, as it can impair cognitive and motor functions, as well as stimulate glutamate release, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter. Therefore, the best choice is C, which correctly identifies alcohol's effects at low and high levels.

Question 15

Which of the following is a diagnosis found in the DSM-IV-TR?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-IV-TR contains a diagnosis for Substance-Dependence Disorder, which is commonly used to diagnose alcoholism and other substance use disorders. Options A and B are not official diagnoses in the DSM-IV-TR, and option C is not a commonly used term in diagnosing substance use disorders.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about alcohol problems is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The average life span of an alcoholic is shortened by about twelve years compared to the average citizen. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. The lifetime prevalence for alcoholism in the United States is actually closer to 14 percent, alcohol impairs performance on complex cognitive tasks, and many individuals with alcohol abuse also have coexisting mental disorders.

Question 17

Alcohol's effects on explain its ability to impair judgment.

Accepted Answer

Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that stimulates the brain's activity. Alcohol suppresses glutamate activity, which results in the slowing down of the brain's communication pathways. The impairment of judgment is a result of the slowdown of neural pathways in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and reasoning.

Question 18

The occurrence of withdrawal symptoms

Accepted Answer

signals that the body has adjusted to the presence of the drug

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true about alcohol use?

Accepted Answer

Alcoholism increases the risk of suicide. While alcoholism can lead to accidental death through injuries, alcohol poisoning, and other health complications, it is also strongly associated with a higher risk of suicide. Women are not more likely to develop alcoholism than men.

Question 20

What evidence is there that the legal definition of alcohol intoxication a blood alcohol content of 0.08) should be changed?

Accepted Answer

Judgment becomes impaired long before this blood alcohol level is reached.

Quiz 11: Substance-Related Disorders