Question 1

Delirium tremens ("the DTs") typically last:

Accepted Answer

Delirium tremens typically last 2 or 3 days, but symptoms can persist for longer in severe cases.

Question 2

A woman is raped by someone who was intoxicated. How common is this?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is a significant factor in sexual assault cases, with studies indicating it is involved in more than one-third of all rapes. This high prevalence is due to alcohol's impairment of judgment and inhibition, making both perpetrators and victims more vulnerable to sexual violence.

Question 3

A patient in an alcohol rehabilitation center tells you a detailed story about growing up in the mountains of Tennessee. Later, you find out that the person had never even visited Tennessee. A day later you visit the patient again, and the patient does not recognize you. This patient is MOST likely suffering from:

Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms, including fabricating stories (confabulation) and memory issues (not recognizing someone they met recently), are characteristic of Korsakoff's syndrome. This condition is often related to chronic alcohol abuse and results from a deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1).

Question 4

Alcohol is a factor in approximately _____ of all college dropouts.

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is a factor in approximately one-fourth of all college dropouts.

Question 5

Drinking alcohol initially affects:

Accepted Answer

Alcohol first impairs the brain's frontal lobes, which are responsible for judgment and decision-making, leading to impaired judgment before affecting other areas.

Question 6

A friend has done some heavy drinking and asks you what to do to "sober up" as quickly as possible. The response that is MOST appropriate is:

Accepted Answer

Stopping drinking is the most effective way to begin sobering up as it prevents further alcohol from entering the bloodstream, allowing the body to metabolize the alcohol already consumed.

Question 7

Two people of the same gender consume the same amount of alcohol in the same amount of time. Nevertheless, one of them sobers up substantially sooner than the other. MOST likely, this difference is due to differences in:

Accepted Answer

Liver function significantly influences how quickly a person can metabolize alcohol. Individuals with more efficient liver enzymes for alcohol metabolism will sober up faster than those with less efficient liver metabolism.

Question 8

The scarring of the liver caused by alcohol consumption is known as:

Accepted Answer

Cirrhosis is the correct term for the scarring of the liver tissue caused by long-term alcohol consumption, among other causes. This condition can lead to decreased liver function and is characterized by the replacement of healthy liver tissue with scar tissue.

Question 9

Neelah is a long-time serious drinker. In the last year she has started having huge memory lapses. When this happens, she makes up wild stories to help her fill in what she does not remember. This symptom is called:

Accepted Answer

Confabulation is a symptom where an individual fills in gaps in their memory with fabricated stories or facts. This is often seen in cases of chronic alcoholism, particularly in the context of Korsakoff's syndrome, but the symptom itself is specifically called confabulation.

Question 10

Research indicates that the students MOST likely to binge drink:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research indicates that the students MOST likely...

Question 11

Which statement is TRUE regarding gender differences in heavy drinkers?

Accepted Answer

Heavy drinking is significantly more common among men than women, with studies consistently showing that men are at least twice as likely to be heavy drinkers. This difference is attributed to a variety of biological, social, and cultural factors.

Question 12

Women tolerate alcohol less well than men because they:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Women tolerate alcohol less well than men...

Question 13

In women, the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase is found at:

Accepted Answer

Women have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase in their stomachs compared to men. This enzyme is crucial for metabolizing alcohol. With lower levels, women metabolize alcohol more slowly, leading to higher blood alcohol concentrations and making them more susceptible to becoming intoxicated.

Question 14

How do delirium tremens (DTs) differ from other withdrawal reactions?

Accepted Answer

DTs are a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that can lead to serious health issues, including death, if not properly treated. This differentiates them from other, less severe withdrawal reactions.

Question 15

Pat and Kelly each have five of the same cocktail. Pat gets very drunk. Kelly does not. Which factor would MOST likely account for this difference?

Accepted Answer

Biological differences between men and women, including body composition and enzyme levels, can lead to differences in alcohol metabolism, often resulting in women becoming intoxicated more quickly than men when consuming the same amount of alcohol.

Question 16

Studies show that students living in substance-free dorms engage in binge drinking about ____ as often as students living in fraternity or sorority houses.

Accepted Answer

Studies indicate that students residing in substance-free dormitories engage in binge drinking approximately 50 percent as often as their counterparts living in fraternity or sorority houses, suggesting a significant reduction in such behavior among those in substance-free environments.

Question 17

A combination of alcohol abuse and a vitamin B deficiency can lead to:

Accepted Answer

Korsakoff's syndrome is a chronic memory disorder caused by severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), often associated with alcohol abuse.

Question 18

A person has ingested enough ethyl alcohol to lose consciousness but has not died. The MOST probable alcohol concentration in that person, expressed as percent of blood volume, is:

Accepted Answer

The most probable alcohol concentration in a person who has ingested enough ethyl alcohol to lose consciousness but has not died is around 0.40%. Blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.40% are considered potentially lethal and can induce coma, but lower concentrations (like 0.03% or 0.09%) are associated with impairment levels far below loss of consciousness. A BAC of 0.70% is extremely high and typically fatal, making 0.40% the most probable choice for this scenario.

Question 19

A blood alcohol concentration of _____ percent typically produces the symptoms of intoxication.

Accepted Answer

A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.09 percent is typically associated with noticeable symptoms of intoxication, such as impaired motor skills and judgment.

Question 20

An individual who is dependent on alcohol is experiencing delirium tremens. This reaction is:

Accepted Answer

Delirium tremens is an uncommon but serious condition that can occur when an individual who is dependent on alcohol suddenly stops drinking. It typically begins within 72 hours (three days) after the last drink.

Quiz 12: Substance Use and Addictive Disorders