CPSUD Practice Test

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CPSUD Practice Test (V1)

Dive into practice questions

Question 1

A pharmacist is dispensing an intranasal naloxone kit to a family member of a patient with opioid use disorder. Which piece of counseling is most critical to provide?

  1. “Administer a second dose immediately, regardless of the patient’s response.”
  2. “Naloxone is a substitute for long-term treatment and recovery.”
  3. “Call 911 immediately after administering the first dose, as naloxone’s effects are temporary and the overdose may return.”
  4. “Only administer naloxone if you are absolutely certain the patient has taken an opioid.”

Question 2

Buprenorphine is a cornerstone of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder due to its unique pharmacology. What is its mechanism of action at the mu-opioid receptor?

  1. Full agonist
  2. Partial agonist
  3. Antagonist
  4. Inverse agonist

Question 3

A patient in an outpatient clinic reports drinking “a little too much” on weekends and occasionally using a friend’s pain medication. Which of the following is a validated screening tool designed to quickly assess for both drug and alcohol problems?

  1. PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)
  2. GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale)
  3. CAGE-AID (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener – Adapted to Include Drugs)
  4. CIWA-Ar (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, revised)

Question 4

A patient is admitted to the hospital with severe alcohol withdrawal, exhibiting tremors, agitation, and a history of seizures. Which class of medication is considered the first-line treatment to manage these symptoms and prevent progression?

  1. Antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol)
  2. Beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol)
  3. Benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam, diazepam)
  4. Anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazepine)

Answer Key

  • Question 1: C. “Call 911 immediately after administering the first dose, as naloxone’s effects are temporary and the overdose may return.” (Naloxone has a shorter half-life than many opioids, so medical supervision is essential as the patient may re-enter an overdose state.)
  • Question 2: B. Partial agonist. (Buprenorphine’s partial agonism provides a “ceiling effect” on respiratory depression, making it safer than full agonists, while still alleviating withdrawal and cravings by binding to the mu-opioid receptor.)
  • Question 3: C. CAGE-AID (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener – Adapted to Include Drugs). (This tool is a simple, four-question screener that adapts the original CAGE questionnaire to screen for both alcohol and drug use disorders.)
  • Question 4: C. Benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam, diazepam). (Benzodiazepines are the standard of care for managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome by potentiating GABAergic effects, which helps control agitation, prevent seizures, and reduce the risk of delirium tremens.)