DSST Substance Abuse Study Guide

Are you preparing to take the DSST Substance Abuse exam?

If so, you'll want to check out what you can expect on the test.

Our study guide will help you understand the types of questions that will be asked and the topics covered.

With some preparation, you should be able to ace the DSST Substance Abuse exam!

Table of Contents

1. Overview of Substance Abuse and Dependency Abuse

2. Classification of Drugs

3. Pharmacological and Neurophysiological Principles

4. Alcohol

5. Anti-anxiety and Sedative Hypnotics

6. Inhaled Substances

7. Tobacco and Nicotine

8. Psychomotor Stimulants

9. Opioids

10. Cannabinoids

11. Hallucinogens

12. Other Drugs of Abuse

13. Antipsychotic Drugs

14. Antidepressants and Mood Stabilizers

15. Conclusion

16. Student Resources

17. References

1. Overview of Substance Abuse and Dependency Abuse

Overview of Substance Abuse and Dependency Abuse (10% - 12%)

• Terminology: A pattern of maladaptive substance use associated with recurrent and significant adverse consequences.

• Theories of Abuse and Dependence: Substance abuse has been categorized within the psychoanalytic concept of symptoms.

• Models of Abuse and Dependence: Physical dependence, positive reinforcement, disease model, etc.

• Demographics: In 2010, 22.6 million Americans aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users.

• Costs to Society and Associations with Social Problems: The economic cost is nearly $215 billion.

• Screening and Diagnosis: When there are no obvious red flags, suspicious physical findings, or atypical features of chronic disease, it is most important to do so.

DSST Substance Abuse Trivia Question #347

2. Classification of Drugs

Classification of Drugs (5% - 7%)

In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act launched a significant campaign to control illegal substances.

3. Pharmacological and Neurophysiological Principles

Pharmacological and Neurophysiological Principles (10% - 12%)

• Nervous System: Most drugs affect nervous systems by modulating synaptic transmission.

• Actions of Drugs: Addictive drugs commonly increase dopamine in the mesolimbic area of the brain.

• Drug Interactions: How your body responds to drugs and their specific effects.

4. Alcohol

Alcohol (11% - 13%)

• Alcohol: The production and use of alcoholic beverages date to the earliest periods of human civilization.

• Determinants of Blood Alcohol Level: Blood alcohol content is usually expressed as a percentage of alcohol in the blood.

• Effects: Vary depending on the BAC % level.

• Uses and Administration: Usually administered orally in its original state or mixed with other bases (such as fruit juice).

• Tolerance, Withdrawal, and Overdose: Alcohol consumption interferes with many bodily functions and affects behavior.

• Dependency Issues: Gets worse over time, and gradually the effects become more serious.

• Prevention and Treatment: Reduce or avoid alcohol.

DSST Substance Abuse Trivia Question #226

5. Anti-anxiety and Sedative Hypnotics

Anti-anxiety and Sedative Hypnotics (5% - 7%)

• Anti-Anxiety and Sedative Hypnotics: Created to lessen the effects of stress and ease feelings of discomfort, tension, anxiety, and dysphoria.

• Effects, use and administration, tolerance, prevention and treatment, and dependency issues.

6. Inhaled Substances

Inhaled Substances (3% - 5%)

• Inhaled Substances: The true history of inhalants dates back to 1400 B.C., with the Greeks using certain vapors to enter a trance. Types include volatile substances, aerosols, gases, and nitrites.

• Effects, use and administration, tolerance, prevention and treatment, and dependency issues.

7. Tobacco and Nicotine

Tobacco and Nicotine (6% - 8%)

• Tobacco and Nicotine: Tobacco is a product obtained from plant leaves of the genus Nicotiana. When dried and cured, tobacco leaves make various products, including cigarettes, cigars, snuff, and chewing tobacco.

• Effects, use and administration, tolerance, prevention and treatment, and dependency issues.

8. Psychomotor Stimulants

Psychomotor Stimulants (8% - 10%)

• Psychomotor Stimulants: Stimulants are a class of drugs that elevate mood, increase feelings of well-being and increase energy and alertness.

• Effects, use and administration, tolerance, prevention and treatment, and dependency issues.

9. Opioids

Opioids (8% - 11%)

• Opioids: Opium, the sap of the seedpod of Papaver somniferum, was found as early as 3000 B.C. and later spread from Turkey to Islam to India to China to Europe and America.

• Types include codeine, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine.

10. Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids (8% - 10%)

• Cannabinoids: Evidence suggests that the medicinal use of Cannabis goes back to the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, who was the father of Chinese agriculture.

• Effects, use and administration, tolerance, prevention and treatment, and dependency issues.

11. Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens (3% - 5%)

• Hallucinogens: Drugs that cause hallucinations-profound distortions in a person's perceptions of reality. Like many substances from the past, they were used in cultural and religious contexts.

• Effects, use and administration, tolerance, prevention and treatment, and dependency issues.

12. Other Drugs of Abuse

Other Drugs of Abuse (4% - 6%)

• Anabolic Steroids: A synthetic substance similar to the male sex hormone testosterone.

• Over-The-Counter (OTC) Substances: Can be purchased at a pharmacy, grocery, or convenience store without a prescription.

• Herbal Substances: More drug users are utilizing and abusing new herbal drugs. These new herbal drugs are falsely propagated as safe and legal.

• Club Drugs: A pharmacologically heterogeneous group of psychoactive drugs that tend to be abused by teens and young adults.

• Other Prescription Drugs of Interest: Not legally prescribed and taking them for reasons or in dosages other than as prescribed.

13. Antipsychotic Drugs

Antipsychotic Drugs (3% - 5%)

• Antipsychotic Drugs: Introduced in the 1950s, they were used to help patients with psychosis to lead a more regular and fulfilling life by alleviating symptoms of hallucinations and visual, auditory, and paranoid thoughts.

• Effects, uses, and administration.

14. Antidepressants and Mood Stabilizers

Antidepressants and Mood Stabilizers (3% - 5%)

• Antidepressants and Mood Stabilizers: The first antidepressant was discovered in the 1950s.

• Scientists at Munsterlingen asylum in Switzerland sought treatment for schizophrenia and discovered a drug that could change the balance of the brain's neurotransmitters.

15. Conclusion: DSST Substance Abuse

The DSST Substance Abuse exam covers various topics, from the terminology and theories behind abuse and dependency to demographics and social problems associated with substance misuse.

If you're looking for a comprehensive overview of this important information, our Substance Abuse preparation course is just what you need.

Our course consists of course modules and practice exams that are pertinent to the subject matter and will aid you in successfully passing your test.

So what are you waiting for? Start studying today!

16. Student Resources

DSST Substance Abuse Preparation Course

• Free DSST Practice Exams

• Free DSST Student Orientation

• DSST Substance Abuse Preparation Course

17. References

DSST Substance Abuse Fact Sheet

DSST Substance Abuse Fact Sheet

.pdf

Download PDF • 80KB