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Substance Abuse Education Flashcards

7 cards from real SAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Substance Abuse Education flashcards as text

  1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the reward pathway activated by most addictive substances?

    Answer: Dopamine

    Dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (mesolimbic pathway) is the central mechanism driving the reinforcing effects of addictive substances.

  2. A student tells a SAC counselor they drink alcohol only on weekends but consume 8+ drinks each time. This pattern is best described as:

    Answer: Binge drinking

    Binge drinking is defined by NIAAA as consuming enough alcohol to raise blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or higher, typically 4+ drinks for women and 5+ drinks for men within about 2 hours.

  3. Which of the following is a DEPRESSANT of the central nervous system?

    Answer: Benzodiazepines

    Benzodiazepines are CNS depressants that enhance the effect of GABA, slowing brain activity and reducing anxiety.

  4. The 'gateway drug' theory suggests that:

    Answer: Use of legal or less harmful substances may precede use of harder drugs

    The gateway theory proposes a statistical correlation in which use of milder substances (like tobacco or alcohol) is associated with increased likelihood of later using harder drugs, though causation is debated.

  5. When educating students about opioids, a SAC counselor should emphasize that tolerance means:

    Answer: Higher doses are needed over time to achieve the same effect

    Tolerance develops when the brain adapts to repeated drug exposure, requiring increasingly larger doses to produce the original effect.

  6. Which federal legislation significantly shapes school-based substance abuse programs by requiring drug-free school zones?

    Answer: Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act

    The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funds programs to prevent drug and violence in and around schools.

  7. A student who uses marijuana daily to cope with anxiety is demonstrating which type of use pattern?

    Answer: Instrumental use

    Instrumental use involves taking a substance for a specific purpose or to manage a condition, such as using marijuana to self-medicate anxiety.