Question 1

A researcher reports that a drug indirectly stimulates a reward center in the brain rather than directly stimulating it. The drug the researcher is studying could be any of the following drugs EXCEPT:
A) alcohol.
B) opium.
C) marijuana.
D) cocaine.

Accepted Answer

Cocaine directly stimulates the reward center by increasing dopamine levels in the brain's circuits, unlike the other options which have more indirect effects on the reward system.

Question 2

According to research, 18 percent of unemployed adults use an illegal drug. This is approximately _____ the rate seen in employed adults.
A) 1.5
B) 2.5
C) 4
D) 6

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is 2.5 times the rate seen in employed adults, indicating that unemployed adults are significantly more likely to use illegal drugs compared to their employed counterparts.

Question 3

Which person would be MOST likely to develop alcoholism?
A) A lower-socioeconomic-class person living in a high-unemployment area
B) A lower-socioeconomic-class person living in a low-unemployment area
C) A higher-socioeconomic-class person living in a high-unemployment area
D) A higher-socioeconomic-class person living in a low-unemployment area

Accepted Answer

Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds living in high-unemployment areas are more likely to experience stress, lack of resources, and potentially limited access to support systems, factors which can contribute to higher rates of alcoholism.

Question 4

"Drug dependence may develop because one finds drug use rewarding when it reduces tension." A person with which view of substance abuse would MOST likely agree with this statement?
A) Biological
B) Sociocultural
C) Cognitive-behavioral
D) Psychodynamic

Accepted Answer

The cognitive-behavioral view emphasizes the role of learning and behavior in the development of substance abuse problems. It suggests that individuals may use drugs because they find them rewarding, particularly in terms of reducing tension or stress, which aligns with the statement provided.

Question 5

What is the most direct evidence for a genetic explanation for substance use disorders?
A) Surveys of adults with alcohol use disorder
B) Higher rates of alcohol preference demonstrated in breeding studies
C) The study finding that fraternal twins have a concordance rate of 30 percent for substance use disorder
D) The study finding that individuals with substance use disorder are more likely to have an abnormal D2 receptor gene

Accepted Answer

The presence of an abnormal D2 receptor gene in individuals with substance use disorder suggests a genetic component, providing direct evidence of a genetic explanation.

Question 6

Aurora commonly uses heroin. If she lives in the United States, how likely is she to also use another illegal drug?
A) Not very likely, approximately a 10 percent chance
B) Somewhat likely, approximately a 20 percent chance
C) Likely, approximately a 50 percent chance
D) Very likely, approximately a 90 percent chance

Accepted Answer

Individuals who use one illegal drug, such as heroin, are very likely to use other drugs as well. Studies and statistics on drug use patterns show that polydrug use is common among illicit drug users, with rates of use of other substances among heroin users often being very high.

Question 7

A person with a substance abuse problem has just self-administered by intramuscular injection an overdose of fentanyl, a very powerful synthetic narcotic. A potentially fatal side effect of fentanyl overdose is that breathing stops. Assuming the drug would interfere with breathing when it reaches the brain, the person should experience breathing difficulty:
A) almost immediately.
B) in a few seconds.
C) in a few minutes.
D) in about a half hour.

Accepted Answer

Fentanyl administered by intramuscular injection typically takes a few minutes to reach the brain and affect breathing, due to the time required for absorption into the bloodstream and then distribution to the brain.

Question 8

A marijuana user has just taken the drug. Almost half an hour passes before the user begins to experience the drug high. The user has MOST likely taken the drug by:
A) inhalation (smoking).
B) eating it in some food.
C) intramuscular injection.
D) intravenous injection.

Accepted Answer

When marijuana is consumed by eating it in food, it takes longer for the drug to take effect—typically 30 minutes to an hour—because it has to be digested and metabolized by the liver before the active compounds enter the bloodstream and reach the brain. This is in contrast to inhalation, where effects are felt within minutes, and injections, which would also result in quicker onset of effects.

Question 9

Which combination is MOST likely to result in antagonistic effects?
A) LSD and cocaine
B) Alcohol and barbiturates
C) Cocaine and amphetamine
D) Barbiturates and cocaine

Accepted Answer

Barbiturates are depressants, while cocaine is a stimulant. When used together, they can have antagonistic effects as they work in opposite directions on the central nervous system.

Question 10

A researcher reports that a drug directly stimulates a reward center in the brain rather than acting through indirect stimulation of a reward center. The drug the researcher is studying could be any of the following drugs EXCEPT:
A) powdered cocaine.
B) methamphetamine.
C) marijuana.
D) caffeine.

Accepted Answer

Marijuana primarily acts through the endocannabinoid system and does not directly stimulate the brain's reward centers in the same way that drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine do, which directly increase dopamine levels in those areas.

Question 11

Assume a researcher finds that overuse of a drug reduces the body's production of neurotransmitters. Thus, if an abuser of this drug stops taking the drug, withdrawal symptoms occur until the brain begins producing normal levels of neurotransmitters again. Such a finding would most directly support which view of the cause of substance use disorders?
A) Sociocultural
B) Biological
C) Opponent-process
D) Behavioral

Accepted Answer

The finding directly supports the biological view of the cause of substance use disorders, as it highlights the physiological changes (reduced neurotransmitter production) in the body due to drug abuse, which leads to withdrawal symptoms when the drug use is stopped.

Question 12

Bryan, an intravenous heroin user, feels intense cravings when he sees hypodermic needles. This may be an example of:
A) modeling.
B) operant conditioning.
C) classical conditioning.
D) observational learning.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of classical conditioning, where Bryan has learned to associate the sight of hypodermic needles (a previously neutral stimulus) with the effects of heroin (an unconditioned stimulus), leading to cravings (a conditioned response).

Question 13

Studies attempting to relate personality traits to potential for developing substance abuse show that:
A) one key personality trait, impulsivity, predicts substance abuse.
B) one key personality trait, dependence, predicts substance abuse.
C) a specific group of traits predicts substance abuse.
D) no single trait or combination of traits predicts substance abuse.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Studies attempting to relate personality traits to...

Question 14

Scientists have conducted breeding experiments by mating across generations nonhumans that prefer alcohol. What have these researchers found?
A) Alcohol preference is not genetic.
B) One or a few of the offspring prefer alcohol over other tastes but still more than the norm.
C) Generally, the offspring prefer alcohol over other tastes.
D) The preference for alcohol is seen only in male subjects.

Accepted Answer

These breeding experiments have shown that alcohol preference can indeed be passed down through generations, indicating a genetic component to this preference. Generally, the offspring from such matings show a higher preference for alcohol over other tastes compared to the norm, suggesting that genetics play a significant role in alcohol preference.

Question 15

If genetics plays a strong role in the development of cocaine abuse, we would expect to find the lowest concordance rates for cocaine abuse among:
A) genetically unrelated pairs of people.
B) parents and their children.
C) identical twins.
D) siblings of the same gender.

Accepted Answer

Genetically unrelated pairs of people would have the lowest concordance rates for cocaine abuse if genetics plays a strong role, as they share the least genetic similarity compared to parents and their children, identical twins, or siblings of the same gender.

Question 16

Research indicates that the MOST important neurotransmitter in the reward circuit of the brain is probably:
A) acetylcholine.
B) anandamide.
C) dopamine.
D) one of the endorphins.

Accepted Answer

Dopamine is widely recognized as the most important neurotransmitter in the brain's reward circuit, playing a crucial role in the regulation of pleasure, reward, and motivation.

Question 17

Chronic and excessive use of benzodiazepines may cause:
A) increased production of GABA.
B) decreased production of GABA.
C) decreased breakdown of GABA.
D) increased growth of GABA-producing cells.

Accepted Answer

Chronic and excessive use of benzodiazepines can lead to decreased production of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) because the body may reduce its natural production in response to the enhanced GABA activity caused by the drugs.

Question 18

A manager who feels anxious about speaking in front of large groups frequently has a couple of glasses of wine to relax before beginning to speak. This "medicinal" use of alcohol can be explained MOST easily:
A) by opponent-process theory.
B) through molecular biological analysis.
C) by operant conditioning.
D) as genetic predisposition.

Accepted Answer

The manager's behavior can be explained by operant conditioning, as the consumption of alcohol reduces anxiety (a negative state), thus the behavior (drinking alcohol before speaking) is reinforced because it leads to a desirable outcome (feeling relaxed). This is an example of negative reinforcement, where a behavior is strengthened because it removes or diminishes a negative outcome.

Question 19

One longitudinal study found that men who develop alcoholism were initially MORE:
A) antisocial as adolescents.
B) aggressive as children.
C) impulsive as teenagers.
D) depressed as teenagers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One longitudinal study found that men who...

Question 20

Researchers have found that substance use disorders are more common among some religious groups than others and generally are more common among some groups than among others. Together, these findings provide the MOST support for which view of substance use disorders?
A) Sociocultural
B) Biological
C) Cognitive-behavioral
D) Psychodynamic

Accepted Answer

The findings that substance use disorders vary among different religious and social groups support the sociocultural view, which emphasizes the impact of culture, social norms, and societal influences on behavior and mental health issues.

Quiz 12: Substance Use and Addictive Disorders

A researcher reports that a drug indirectly stimulates a reward center in the brain rather than directly stimulating it. The drug the researcher is studying could be any of the following drugs EXCEPT:

According to research, 18 percent of unemployed adults use an illegal drug. This is approximately _____ the rate seen in employed adults.

Which person would be MOST likely to develop alcoholism?

"Drug dependence may develop because one finds drug use rewarding when it reduces tension." A person with which view of substance abuse would MOST likely agree with this statement?

What is the most direct evidence for a genetic explanation for substance use disorders?

Aurora commonly uses heroin. If she lives in the United States, how likely is she to also use another illegal drug?

A marijuana user has just taken the drug. Almost half an hour passes before the user begins to experience the drug high. The user has MOST likely taken the drug by:

Which combination is MOST likely to result in antagonistic effects?

A researcher reports that a drug directly stimulates a reward center in the brain rather than acting through indirect stimulation of a reward center. The drug the researcher is studying could be any of the following drugs EXCEPT:

Bryan, an intravenous heroin user, feels intense cravings when he sees hypodermic needles. This may be an example of:

Studies attempting to relate personality traits to potential for developing substance abuse show that:

Scientists have conducted breeding experiments by mating across generations nonhumans that prefer alcohol. What have these researchers found?

If genetics plays a strong role in the development of cocaine abuse, we would expect to find the lowest concordance rates for cocaine abuse among:

Research indicates that the MOST important neurotransmitter in the reward circuit of the brain is probably:

Chronic and excessive use of benzodiazepines may cause:

A manager who feels anxious about speaking in front of large groups frequently has a couple of glasses of wine to relax before beginning to speak. This "medicinal" use of alcohol can be explained MOST easily:

One longitudinal study found that men who develop alcoholism were initially MORE:

Researchers have found that substance use disorders are more common among some religious groups than others and generally are more common among some groups than among others. Together, these findings provide the MOST support for which view of substance use disorders?