Deck 40: Drug Abuse IV: Major Drugs of Abuse Other Than Alcohol and Nicotine

Question 1

A nurse is caring for a patient who is addicted to barbiturates and who will begin receiving phenobarbital. The nurse discusses the care of this patient with a nursing student. Which statement by the student indicates understanding of the teaching?

A) "Phenobarbital acts as an antagonist to barbiturates and prevents toxicity."
B) "Phenobarbital has a long half-life and can be tapered gradually to minimize abstinence symptoms."
C) "Phenobarbital can be administered on an as-needed basis to treat withdrawal symptoms."
D) "Phenobarbital prevents respiratory depression associated with barbiturate withdrawal."

Answer 1

"Phenobarbital has a long half-life and can be tapered gradually to minimize abstinence symptoms."

Question 2

A patient who has a long-term addiction to opioids takes an overdose of barbiturates. The nurse preparing to care for this patient will anticipate:

A) a severe abstinence syndrome when the effects of the barbiturates are reversed.
B) minimal respiratory depression, because the patient has developed a tolerance to opioids.
C) observing pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, and possibly coma in this patient.
D) using naloxone [Narcan] to reverse the effects of the barbiturates, because cross-tolerance is likely.

Answer 2

observing pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, and possibly coma in this patient.

Question 3

A college student admits frequent use of LSD to a nurse and reports plans to stop using it. What will the nurse tell this student?

A) Flashback episodes and episodic visual disturbances are common.
B) Tolerance to the effects of LSD will fade quickly once use of the drug has stopped.
C) Withdrawal symptoms can be mitigated with haloperidol [Haldol].
D) Withdrawal from LSD is associated with a severe abstinence syndrome.

Answer 3

Tolerance to the effects of LSD will fade quickly once use of the drug has stopped.

Question 4

A patient who is agitated and profoundly anxious is brought to the emergency department. The patient acts paranoid and keeps describing things in the room that do not exist. A cardiac monitor shows an irregular ventricular tachycardia. Which medication will the nurse expect to administer?

A) Anticocaine vaccine
B) Diazepam [Valium]
C) Disulfiram [Antabuse]
D) Vigabatrin [Sabril]

Question 5

A college student is brought to the emergency department by a group of friends who report that they had been dancing at a nightclub when their friend collapsed. The patient has a temperature of 105°F and shows jaw clenching and confusion. The nurse will expect to administer which medication?

A) Dantrolene [Dantrium]
B) Haloperidol [Haldol]
C) Methadone
D) Naloxone [Narcan]

Question 6

A patient arrives in the emergency department complaining of dizziness, lightheadedness, and a pulsating headache. Further assessment reveals a blood pressure of 82/60 mm Hg and palpitations. The patient's friends tell the nurse that they were experimenting with "poppers." The nurse will expect to administer which medication?

A) Diazepam [Valium]
B) Haloperidol [Haldol]
C) Methylene blue and supplemental oxygen
D) Naloxone [Narcan]

Question 7

A pregnant patient reports using marijuana during her pregnancy. She asks the nurse whether this will affect the fetus. What should the nurse tell her?

A) Children born to patients who use marijuana will have smaller brains.
B) Neonates born to patients who use marijuana will have withdrawal syndromes.
C) Preschool-aged children born to patients who use marijuana are more likely to be hyperactive.
D) School-aged children born to patients who use marijuana often have difficulty with memory.

Question 8

A patient arrives in the emergency department acutely intoxicated and difficult to arouse. The patient's friends tell the nurse that the patient took a handful of diazepam [Valium] pills while at a party several hours ago. The nurse will expect to administer which drug?

A) Buprenorphine [Subutex]
B) Flumazenil [Romazicon]
C) Nalmefene [Revex]
D) Naloxone [Narcan]

Question 9

A college student tells the nurse that several friends have been using synthetic marijuana to get high. What will the nurse tell this patient about this type of substance?

A) "These substances are fairly safe because they are derived from herbs."
B) "They can cause hypertension, nausea, vomiting, and hallucinations."
C) "These substances do not have mind-altering affects."
D) "These substances produce a high and they are not illegal."

Question 10

What is the primary reason for opioid abuse?

A) Ease of access
B) Initial "rush" similar to orgasm
C) Peer pressure
D) Prolonged sense of euphoria

Question 11

A school nurse is teaching a high school health class about the effects of marijuana use. Which statement by a student indicates a need for further teaching?

A) "Chronic use of marijuana can result in irreversible brain changes."
B) "Higher doses of marijuana are likely to produce increased euphoria."
C) "Marijuana is unique in that it produces euphoria, sedation, and hallucinations."
D) "Marijuana has more prolonged effects when it is ingested than when it is smoked."

Question 12

A patient who is an opioid addict has undergone detoxification with buprenorphine [Subutex] and has been given a prescription for buprenorphine with naloxone [Suboxone]. The patient asks the nurse why the drug was changed. Which response by the nurse is correct?

A) "Suboxone has a lower risk of abuse."
B) "Suboxone has a longer half-life."
C) "Subutex causes more respiratory depression."
D) "Subutex has more buprenorphine."

Question 13

Which factors make meperidine an opioid of choice among nurses and physicians who abuse opioids?

A) Easy access to syringes for administration of the drug
B) Highly effective oral dosing
C) Increased effects on smooth muscle function
D) Less pupillary constriction than other opioids
E) Shorter half-life than other opioids

Question 14

A young adult patient is admitted to the hospital for evaluation of severe weight loss. The nurse admitting this patient notes that the patient has missing teeth and severe tooth decay. The patient's blood pressure is 160/98 mm Hg. The patient has difficulty answering questions and has trouble remembering simple details. The nurse suspects abuse of which substance?

A) Cocaine
B) Ecstasy
C) Marijuana
D) Methamphetamine

Question 15

A patient who is a heroin addict is admitted to a methadone substitution program. After administering the first dose of methadone, the nurse notes that the patient shows signs of euphoria and complains of nausea. What will the nurse do?

A) Administer nalmefene [Revex].
B) Contact the provider to obtain an order for naloxone [Narcan].
C) Question the patient about heroin use that day.
D) Suspect that the patient exaggerated the amount of heroin used.

Question 16

A nurse is teaching a drug prevention class to a group of parents of adolescents. Which statement by a parent indicates understanding of the teaching?

A) "Compared with alcohol, marijuana has little or no long-term adverse effects."
B) "Ecstasy causes reversible damage to serotonergic neurons."
C) "LSD does not cause an abstinence syndrome when it is withdrawn."
D) "Most individuals who abuse opioids began using them therapeutically."

Question 17

In discussing the rationale for using methadone to ease opioid withdrawal, the nurse would explain that it has which pharmacologic properties or characteristics?

A) Methadone can prevent abstinence syndrome.
B) Methadone has a shorter duration of action than other opioids.
C) Methadone is a nonopioid agent.
D) Methadone lacks cross-tolerance with other opioids.

Question 18

A nurse is discussing the differences between OxyContin OC and OxyContin OP with a group of nursing students. Which statement by a student indicates understanding of the teaching?

A) "OxyContin OC cannot be drawn into a syringe for injection."
B) "OxyContin OP has greater solubility in water and alcohol."
C) "OxyContin OP is not easily crushed into a powder."
D) "Patients using OxyContin OP are less likely to overdose."