Question 1

Chronic exposure to endorphins may result in

Accepted Answer

Chronic exposure to endorphins can lead to tolerance to their effects, physical dependence, and opiate receptor desensitization. Tolerance occurs when the body adapts to the constant presence of endorphins and requires higher doses to achieve the same effect. Physical dependence occurs when the body's normal functioning is reliant on the continued presence of endorphins, and sudden withdrawal can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Opiate receptor desensitization occurs when the excessive stimulation of opiate receptors leads to a decrease in their response to endorphins.

Question 2

Most of the deaths attributed to narcotic use are the result of

Accepted Answer

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, most deaths attributed to narcotic use are the result of complications arising from the addict's lifestyle, including infection or disease (such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis), overdose, or organ damage/failure due to prolonged drug use. While large doses of opiates can certainly be dangerous and lead to overdose, it is not the most common cause of death among narcotic users. Similarly, while pneumonia can be a complication of opiate use, it is not a leading cause of death. Finally, sudden loss of opiate tolerance (such as when an addict goes through withdrawal and then relapses with their previous dose) can certainly be risky, but it is also not the most common cause of death from narcotic use.

Question 3

The receptors upon which opiates act

Accepted Answer

Opiate receptors are not limited to a single type or location in the CNS. They are found throughout the brain and spinal cord, and their distribution varies depending on the specific subtype of receptor. This variation in receptor subtypes and distribution is important for the diverse effects of opiates, such as pain relief, euphoria, and respiratory depression. Additionally, the receptors that opiates act on are not the same as those acted on by endogenous opioid peptides, which are naturally produced in the body. Lastly, cocaine does not act on opiate receptors, but rather on neurotransmitter transporters like the dopamine transporter.

Question 4

Which of these drugs would successfully reverse the effects of narcotics in an acute overdose?

Accepted Answer

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that works by binding to the same receptors that narcotics bind to, effectively reversing their effects. It is the drug of choice for treating an acute narcotic overdose. Methadone, clonidine, and LAAM are all opioids themselves and would worsen the overdose.

Question 5

Which of the following are narcotic antagonists?

Accepted Answer

Narcotic antagonists work by blocking the effects of opioids and can be used in the treatment of overdose or addiction. Naloxone and naltrexone are both examples of narcotic antagonists, whereas methadone and LAAM are opioid agonists used in medication-assisted treatment, and clonidine and buprenorphine are different types of medication used in opioid withdrawal and addiction treatment, but not narcotic antagonists.

Question 6

Ultrarapid opioid detoxification utilizes a procedure that involves administering to an opiate dependent person

Accepted Answer

Ultrarapid opioid detoxification involves administering narcotic antagonists while the person is anesthetized or heavily sedated for 24-48 hours. This method is used to accelerate the withdrawal process and reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms. It is not done by administering frequent, high doses of methadone (A) or morphine and naltrexone together (C). Endogenous antiopioid peptides (D) are not used in this procedure.

Question 7

The narcotic antagonists naloxone and naltrexone

Accepted Answer

The answer of The narcotic antagonists naloxone and naltrexone
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Question 8

A key property of opioid drugs which underlies their addiction liability is their ability to indirectly activate _________________________ neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens.

Accepted Answer

Opioid drugs activate dopaminergic neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens, which is a key aspect of their addiction liability. Activation of these neurons results in the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure and reward, which can reinforce drug-taking behavior.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a feature of the way heroin addiction is dealt with in the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

In the United Kingdom, only specialized physicians in specialized drug treatment centers can prescribe heroin to heroin addicts. It is not allowed for any physician to prescribe heroin outside of these centers.

Question 10

In the treatment of heroin addiction, the narcotic agonist LAAM (Orlamm) and the mixed agonist-antagonist buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) have advantages over methadone in terms of

Accepted Answer

LAAM and buprenorphine have advantages over methadone in terms of their considerably longer durations of action. This means that they can be administered less frequently and patients may have more stable levels of medication in their system. While all three medications are effective at suppressing the addicts' use of heroin and in withdrawal detoxification, buprenorphine and LAAM are preferred for their longer action. Additionally, buprenorphine has an advantage in that it has a ceiling effect, meaning that after a certain dose, further increases will not produce more opioid effects, reducing the risk of overdose.

Question 11

The Harrison Act of 1914 made it illegal in the U.S.to

Accepted Answer

The Harrison Act of 1914 made it illegal to sell narcotics except by a prescription obtained from a physician. This included cocaine and opiates, such as morphine and heroin. The act was aimed at controlling the use of these drugs and preventing addiction. It did not explicitly make it illegal to prescribe narcotics to opiate dependent persons, but it did make it more difficult for physicians to do so, as they had to register and keep detailed records of their prescribing practices.

Question 12

Opioid antagonists have been found to be useful in

Accepted Answer

Opioid antagonists like naloxone and naltrexone are mainly used for preventing relapse in recovering opiate addicts and blocking acute opiate overdoses. They work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking the effects of opioids and reducing the craving for them. There is currently no evidence to support their use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease symptoms.

Question 13

Naltrexone (ReVia) is not likely going to be a very common treatment for heroin addiction because

Accepted Answer

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that effectively blocks the effects of opiates like heroin and morphine, and it does not produce physical dependence. However, its limitation in treating heroin addiction lies in its inability to significantly reduce the psychological craving for opiates, which is a critical component of addiction treatment.

Question 14

Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex)

Accepted Answer

Buprenorphine is a long-acting narcotic with mixed agonist-antagonist properties. It is commonly used for medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.

Question 15

If patients with chronic pain and without a history of psychological disturbances or substance abuse are allowed to self-administer narcotics to control their pain, the majority of them

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that patients with chronic pain and without a history of psychological disturbances or substance abuse are unlikely to develop addiction, self-administer larger doses, or develop rapid tolerance to narcotics when allowed to self-administer for pain control. However, it is important for healthcare providers to monitor patients for potential misuse or abuse of narcotics.

Question 16

Opiates have the greatest clinical efficacy in reducing ________________________.

Accepted Answer

Opiates have been found to be more effective in reducing dull, aching pain that persists after a noxious stimulus has been applied rather than sharp, fast onset pain induced by a noxious stimulus.

Question 17

Why is clonidine believed to be useful in the treatment of opiate withdrawal?

Accepted Answer

Clonidine is believed to be useful in the treatment of opiate withdrawal because it reduces the hyperactivity in the locus ceruleus that accompanies opiate withdrawal. The locus ceruleus is a key part of the brain's stress response system, and it plays a major role in opiate withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. By reducing the hyperactivity in the locus ceruleus, clonidine can help to alleviate these symptoms and make opiate withdrawal more tolerable for the patient.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a common effect of opiate administration?

Accepted Answer

Opiates are well-known for their analgesic (pain-relieving) effects, as well as side effects such as respiratory depression, constipation, and sedation. However, they do not typically enhance sex drive; in fact, they may even decrease it due to their effects on the body's hormone levels and neurotransmitters.

Question 19

Which of the following narcotics has the longest duration of effect?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following narcotics has the...

Question 20

Which of the following has NOT been associated with the legal restrictions resulting from the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914?

Accepted Answer

The Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914, which regulated and taxed the production, importation, and distribution of opiates and coca products, did not lead to a decrease in narcotic-related crime. Instead, it is associated with unintended consequences such as increased intravenous narcotic use, increased prices of illicit narcotics, and increased toxicity and lethality associated with using illicit narcotics, as the illegal market for these substances grew.

Quiz 12: Naturally Occurring and Synthetic Opiates and Their Antagonists