Question 1

Jasmine used to feel quite giddy and light-headed after drinking a single glass of wine. Now she finds she can drink three glasses of wine before she feels giddy. What has happened to Jasmine?

Accepted Answer

Jasmine has developed a drug tolerance for alcohol, meaning her body has become accustomed to the effects of the substance and requires higher doses to achieve the same level of intoxication. This can be a dangerous sign of developing an alcohol dependency, but it is not necessarily an indicator on its own.

Question 2

Among the following, which drug tends to produce tolerance most slowly?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol tends to produce tolerance more slowly compared to narcotics, stimulants, and sedatives. Tolerance to alcohol develops as the body's adaptive mechanisms adjust over time to its effects, but this process generally occurs at a slower pace than with many other substances, particularly those that are more potent or have more immediate and intense effects on the central nervous system.

Question 3

Which of the following is a key difference between cocaine and amphetamines?

Accepted Answer

Cocaine is derived from the leaves of the coca plant, whereas amphetamines are synthetically produced.

Question 4

Dr. Montgomery has developed a new drug that blocks the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. What effects will this drug have?

Accepted Answer

Blocking the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine will increase the levels of these neurotransmitters in the synapse, leading to stimulant effects in the body. Both dopamine and norepinephrine are involved in the body's "fight or flight" response, so blocking their reuptake can increase alertness, attention, and energy.

Question 5

Seymour used to get quite a "buzz" from his first cup of coffee in the morning. Now he finds that he doesn't start to feel alert until his third cup. What has happened to Seymour?

Accepted Answer

Seymour has developed a drug tolerance for caffeine, meaning that his body has become accustomed to the effects of caffeine and requires higher doses to produce the same level of alertness. This is a common occurrence with regular caffeine users.

Question 6

Which of the following does NOT belong with the others?

Accepted Answer

Psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline are all hallucinogenic drugs, while cocaine is a stimulant.

Question 7

What is the most widely used recreational drug in North America?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is the most widely used recreational drug in North America, largely due to its legal status and cultural acceptance.

Question 8

For which of the following drugs does the tolerance level develop the most rapidly?

Accepted Answer

Sedatives are drugs that have a depressant effect on the central nervous system, leading to drowsiness and relaxation. With prolonged and frequent use of these drugs, the body can quickly develop a tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect. This tolerance can develop within days or weeks, making sedatives the drug for which the tolerance level develops the most rapidly.

Question 9

Shelly has been feeling extremely tired for the past six months, even though she is getting lots of sleep. Shelly sees her family doctor and asks if there is something that can be prescribed to help her feel more alert and give her more energy. If her doctor does prescribe a medication, what is it most likely to be?

Accepted Answer

Amphetamines are commonly prescribed for conditions such as narcolepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to help increase alertness and decrease fatigue. It is possible that Shelly's doctor may prescribe her an amphetamine-like medication to address her symptoms of fatigue. Hallucinogens, narcotics, and barbiturates are not typically used for this purpose.

Question 10

Renee is experiencing distortions in her sensory and perceptual processes. Additionally, she is exhibiting paranoia, nausea, and "jumbled" thought processes. Renee is most likely under the influence of what type of drug?

Accepted Answer

Renee's symptoms are consistent with those of someone under the influence of a hallucinogen. These drugs can cause sensory and perceptual distortions, as well as paranoid thoughts and disordered thinking. Stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines can cause similar symptoms, but nausea is less common. Sedatives and narcotics, on the other hand, typically do not cause perceptual distortions and are more likely to cause drowsiness and slowed thinking.

Question 11

What is the term for a progressive decrease in one's response to a drug with repeated and prolonged use?

Accepted Answer

Tolerance refers to the progression of decreased response to a drug with repeated and prolonged use. Habituation is a psychological state of decreased responsiveness to a stimulus. Dependency is a physiological and/or psychological dependence on a drug. Withdrawal is a set of physical and/or psychological symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued.

Question 12

What does the idea of multifactorial causation in drug effects suggest?

Accepted Answer

Multifactorial causation suggests that the effects of a drug depend on multiple factors, including the dosage, the user's personal makeup, and their past experiences. Therefore, the best answer is B, which includes a combination of these factors. A suggests that everyone has the same physiological response, which is not true. C is partially true, but not necessarily due to multifactorial causation, as taking multiple drugs can have unpredictable effects for other reasons as well. D is not true, as taking several different drugs at once can actually be dangerous and increase the risk of negative side effects.

Question 13

With which of the following neurotransmitter systems does the effects of cannabis appear to be associated?

Accepted Answer

The effects of cannabis appear to be associated with the GABA neurotransmitter system. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. Cannabis has been shown to increase GABA levels in the brain, which may explain its calming effects.

Question 14

Javier has just taken a drug. He finds that his perceptions are altered and he feels like his sensory awareness has increased. Which of the following drugs has he most likely taken?

Accepted Answer

The altered perceptions and increased sensory awareness are typical effects of mescaline, a psychedelic drug found in certain cacti. Heroin, barbiturates, and alcohol do not typically produce these effects.

Question 15

What is a type of amphetamine that can be snorted or injected intravenously?

Accepted Answer

Crank is a type of amphetamine that can be snorted or injected intravenously. Ecstasy is a stimulant but it is typically taken orally. Ice is a type of methamphetamine that can be smoked or injected, but it is less commonly snorted. Crack is a form of cocaine that is typically smoked, rather than snorted or injected.

Question 16

Dr. Bittner has developed a new drug that increases activity in the GABA system. What effects will this drug have?

Accepted Answer

Increasing activity in the GABA system will result in a sedative effect. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps to decrease activity in the brain. Therefore, increasing its activity will lead to a calming and relaxing effect on the body, making it an effective sedative.

Question 17

Madeline uses a nonprescription drug on a regular basis. Some of the short-term side effects she experiences are bloodshot eyes and poor short-term memory. What has Madeline been using?

Accepted Answer

The short-term side effects mentioned (bloodshot eyes and poor short-term memory) are common with marijuana use. The other options (cocaine, heroin, LSD) typically have different short-term side effects.

Question 18

Haley has severe glaucoma and she finds that the symptoms of her glaucoma can be relieved by using a nonprescription drug. In addition to relieving the symptoms of glaucoma, the drug relaxes her and induces a mild feeling of euphoria. What is Haley using to treat her glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Haley is using marijuana to treat her glaucoma. While marijuana is not a commonly prescribed drug for glaucoma, it is known to reduce intraocular pressure, which can relieve some of the symptoms of glaucoma. The relaxation and feeling of euphoria that Haley experiences are likely side effects of the drug. The other options listed (cocaine, mescaline, and heroin) are not commonly used to treat glaucoma and do not have the same effects as marijuana.

Question 19

Why does MDMA (ecstasy) not fit neatly into existing drug categories?

Accepted Answer

MDMA is a compound drug that affects both the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, similar to amphetamines, and has mild hallucinogenic effects, such as altered perception, sensory distortions, and increased emotional sensitivity. This unique combination of effects makes it difficult to classify neatly into existing drug categories.

Question 20

Bryan finds that, where he used to need only one, he now needs two or more sleeping pills to fall asleep. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

Bryan needing two or more sleeping pills to fall asleep suggests that he has developed a tolerance to the pills, meaning his body has become accustomed to them and requires a higher dosage to achieve the same effect. This is a physical dependence as opposed to a psychological one.

Quiz 5: A: Variations in Consciousness