Question 1

Elimination of drugs can be done via sweat and saliva.

Accepted Answer

The elimination of drugs can occur through various routes such as urine, feces, breath, sweat, and saliva. Sweat and saliva can play a minor role in drug elimination, but they are not the primary routes of drug elimination.

Question 2

Orally administered drugs are ingested at higher-than-needed doses because some of the drug will not make it through the bloodstream.

Accepted Answer

Orally administered drugs typically undergo first-pass metabolism in the liver and may also be broken down in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the amount of the drug that ultimately enters the bloodstream at the desired concentration. Therefore, higher doses are often needed to achieve therapeutic effects.

Question 3

The psychoactive effects of intravenous injections are faster than those of inhalation.

Accepted Answer

Inhalation leads to faster psychoactive effects because the substance quickly enters the bloodstream through the lungs, whereas intravenous injections, although fast, involve a slightly longer process for the drug to reach the brain.

Question 4

The intravenous injection is the fastest type of injection to deliver a drug into the bloodstream.

Accepted Answer

Intravenous injection involves injecting drugs directly into a vein, bypassing the absorption process of the digestive system or muscles, thereby delivering drugs quickly into the bloodstream. As a result, it is the fastest route of drug administration.

Question 5

Fat-soluble drugs are eliminated faster than water-soluble drugs.

Accepted Answer

Fat-soluble drugs are eliminated slower than water-soluble drugs because they are more likely to be absorbed by fatty tissues and remain in the body for longer periods of time. Water-soluble drugs are more easily excreted by the kidneys and eliminated faster.

Question 6

The smaller the quantity of the drug, the faster the body tries to get rid of it.

Accepted Answer

The smaller the quantity of the drug, the slower the body tries to get rid of it. This is because the body's ability to metabolize and eliminate a drug is limited and can only handle a certain amount at a time. When the amount of drug in the body is lower, it takes longer for the body to eliminate it.

Question 7

The elimination half-life of a drug will be faster if the drug is fat-soluble than if it is not.

Accepted Answer

Fat-soluble drugs tend to have longer elimination half-lives because they are stored in fatty tissues, which release the drug slowly into the bloodstream, delaying its elimination.

Question 8

The half-life of nicotine is a few days.

Accepted Answer

The half-life of nicotine is about 2 hours.

Question 9

Older people eliminate drugs at a slower pace than younger people do.

Accepted Answer

This is because the metabolism of drugs usually decreases as age increases due to a reduction in liver and kidney function.

Question 10

Regardless of which route of administration is used, the goal is for the drug to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Accepted Answer

This is correct as the ultimate goal of any drug administration is to get the drug into the bloodstream, from where it can reach the target site of action and elicit its therapeutic effect. Different routes of administration have varying rates of absorption and bioavailability, but the end goal is the same.

Question 11

A major disadvantage of drug inhalation is that the linings leading from the throat to the lungs become irritated over time.

Accepted Answer

Drug inhalation can lead to irritation and inflammation of the respiratory tract, causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Over time, this can damage the lining of the airways and increase the risk of respiratory infections and other lung diseases.

Question 12

An overdose from an orally administered drug is easier to handle on an emergency basis than an overdose of a drug administered through an intravenous injection.

Accepted Answer

Orally administered drugs take longer to be absorbed into the bloodstream than intravenous drugs, allowing for more time to intervene in the case of an overdose. Additionally, intravenous drugs bypass the body's natural filters and are delivered directly into the bloodstream, increasing the risk and severity of overdose.

Question 13

Paint thinners, gasoline, and cleaning fluid are examples of abused products that are typically administered by absorption through the skin or membranes.

Accepted Answer

These products are typically abused through inhalation, not absorption through the skin or membranes. Inhalation is the primary route of exposure for the abuse of volatile substances like paint thinners, gasoline, and cleaning fluids, as it allows the chemicals to enter the bloodstream quickly through the lungs.

Question 14

The half-life of cocaine is only a few hours.

Accepted Answer

The half-life of cocaine is typically around one hour, which means that half of the drug will be eliminated from the body in that time. However, the exact duration of the half-life can vary depending on factors like the amount of the drug used, the individual's metabolism, and the method of administration.

Question 15

Inhalation of smoked drugs such as crack does not present the same hazards to the respiratory system as do tobacco-based cigarettes.

Accepted Answer

Inhalation of smoked drugs, including crack, can cause damage to the respiratory system similar to that of tobacco-based cigarettes. Both can lead to lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. In fact, crack cocaine may have even more damaging effects on the lungs due to the chemicals used in its production.

Question 16

Intramuscular injections are often referred to as skin-popping.

Accepted Answer

Intramuscular injections involve injecting into the muscle, not under the skin (which is referred to as subcutaneous injection). "Skin-popping" generally refers to injecting drugs under the skin, not specifically to intramuscular injections.

Question 17

Mild electric currents can be used to help absorb drugs through the skin or membranes.

Accepted Answer

This is true. The technique is called iontophoresis and involves applying a small electrical charge to the skin or membrane to facilitate drug absorption.

Question 18

Tetanus shots, flu shots, and most inoculations are administered by intramuscular injections.

Accepted Answer

Intramuscular injections are the most common method used to administer tetanus shots, flu shots, and many other types of inoculations. This is because injecting the vaccine into a muscle allows it to be absorbed quickly and easily into the bloodstream, providing effective protection against the disease being targeted.

Question 19

High-alkaline drugs (i.e., cocaine, morphine) are absorbed better in the stomach than weakly acidic drugs (i.e., aspirin).

Accepted Answer

High-alkaline drugs are absorbed better in the intestines due to the basic environment, while weakly acidic drugs like aspirin are absorbed better in the stomach where the environment is acidic.

Question 20

"First-pass metabolism" is an important function of the esophagus.

Accepted Answer

First-pass metabolism refers to the metabolism of a drug or substance that occurs in the liver before it enters systemic circulation. The esophagus is not involved in this process.

Quiz 3: How Drugs Work in the Body and on the Mind