Addiction Basics
DSM & Severity
Why People Use & Reinforcement
Treatment & Change
Care & Counselor Competence
100

What is the national average number of serious recovery attempts?

About 5 attempts on average

100

What does impaired control mean in DSM SUD criteria?

Using larger amounts or longer periods than intended.

100

Name one of the four major categories of why people use substances.

Social, Enhancement, Coping, Conformity.

100

Name one common factor that improves treatment outcomes.

Empathy, instilling hope, recognizing strengths, evidence-based skills.

100

What is the main difference between inpatient and outpatient care?

Inpatient = 24-hour monitored setting; Outpatient = scheduled visits while living at home.

200

Define comorbidity/co-occuring 

When two or more disorders occur in the same person at the same time or sequentially.

200

What is the severity range for mild SUD?

Mild = 2-3 symptoms.

200

Define social use.

Use to connect with others or in social settings.

200

What is the main difference between pre-contemplation and contemplation?

Pre-contemplation = not yet considering change; Contemplation = beginning to consider change.

200

What type of care is rehab considered?

Rehab is residential treatment.

300

What is the difference between a lapse and a relapse?

Lapse = brief return to symptoms; Relapse = full-blown return to disease state.

300

What does it mean if someone meets 6+ DSM criteria?

It indicates severe SUD.

300

What does negative reinforcement mean in substance use?

Using substances to remove or avoid negative feelings.

300

Why is treatment considered nonlinear?


People can move forward and backward between stages.

300

What is the purpose of the ASAM criteria?

To guide placement and treatment planning for SUD and co-occurring conditions.

400

What is the biopsychosocial approach to addiction?

A holistic approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors.

400

Give an example of behavioral restriction in SUD.

Loss of interest in social, work, or recreational activities due to substance use.

400

What is incentive salience?

Substance cues gain motivational power through conditioning.

400

Name one of the 13 principles of effective treatment.

1.Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior

2.No single treatment is appropriate for everyone

3.Treatment needs to be readily available

4.Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just their substance use

5.Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical

6.Behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of addiction treatment

7.Medications are an important element of treatment for many people, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies

8.An individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his or her changing needs

9.Many drug-addicted individuals also have other mental disorders

10.Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term substance use disorder

11.Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective

12.Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously, as lapses during treatment do occur

13.Treatment programs should test clients for infectious diseases

400

Name one ASAM dimension (not the number, just the domain).

Withdrawal potential, Relapse potential, Environmental, Recovery potential.

500

Define evidence-based practice.

Integrating best research with clinical expertise and client needs.

500

How is tolerance different from withdrawal?

Tolerance = needing more for same effect; Withdrawal = negative effects when stopping.

500

Which reinforcement pathway explains using drugs to increase fun and peer approval?

Positive Reinforcement Pathway

500

What role does Maslow’s hierarchy of needs play in treatment success?

Basic needs (safety, food, shelter) must be met before higher-level change can succeed.

500

What are the four areas of addiction counselor competence?

Understanding addiction, Treatment knowledge, Application to practice, Professional readiness.

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