Substance Abuse

Question 1

physical indicators of substance abuse

Answer 1

Burns on fingers or lips
* Pupils abnormally dilated or constricted; eyes watery
* Slurring of speech or slow speech
* Lack of coordination, instability of gait, or tremors
* Sniffing repeatedly, nasal irritation, persistent cough
* Weight loss
* Dysrhythmias
* Pallor, puffiness of face
* Needle tracks on arms or legs

Question 2

behavioral signs of substance abuse

Answer 2

Odor of alcohol or marijuana on clothing or breath
* Labile emotions, including mood swings, agitation, and anger
* Inappropriate, impulsive, or risky behavior
* Missing appointments
* Difficulty concentrating, short term memory loss, blackouts
* Insomnia or excessive sleeping
* Disorientation or confusion
* Lack of personal hygiene

Question 3

possible effects of alcohol use

Answer 3

• Intoxication
• Sensory alteration
• Reduction in anxiety

Question 4

what is the most widely used and accessible substance

Answer 4

alcohol

Question 5

how does the progression of alcohol dependence typically occur compared to other substances

Answer 5

progresses slowly over time, unlike some other substances that lead to rapid dependence

Question 6

why can alcohol dependence be hard to detect for long periods

Answer 6

individuals can maintain employment and family life, hiding their dependence

Question 7

when does alcohol dependence often become noticeable

Answer 7

when the person begins to fail in family, social, or work roles

Question 8

why is diagnosing alcohol misuse challenging

Answer 8

because alcohol is legal and its use is often seen as normative by clients, families, and even clinicians

Question 9

what is the CAGE tool

Answer 9

C- Cutting down: do you think about trying to cut down on drinking
A - Annoyed at Criticism: are people starting to criticize your drinking
G - Guilty feeling: do you feel guilty or try to hide your drinking
E - Eye opener: do you increasingly need a drink earlier in the day

Question 10

what is the clinical instrument for withdrawal for alcohol (CIWA)

Answer 10

used to assess the severity of alcohol withdrawal (mild withdrawal, need meds, severe withdrawal)

Question 11

symptoms of alcohol overdose

Answer 11

• Staggering
• Odor of alcohol on breath
• Loss of coordination
• Dilated pupils
• Slurred speech
• Coma
• Respiratory failure
• Nerve damage
• Liver damage
• Fetal alcohol syndrome (in babies born to alcohol abusers)

Question 12

signs/symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

Answer 12

Anxiety, tachycardia, headache, diaphoresis, progressing to severe agitation,
hallucinations, auditory/tactile disturbances, and psychotic behavior (delirium tremens).