SAMPLE QUESTIONS

EXAM I:

Early laws enacted to regulate the use of drugs were influence in part by racial prejudices aroused by hardship.          True          False

Which of the following is true about alcohol?

A.  Alcohol is a stimulant.
B.  Like benzodiazepines which are prescribed for insomnia, drinking alcohol promotes restful sleep.
C.  Alcohol produces its pervasive effects by being absorbed into body tissue as well as by crossing the blood-brain barrier.
D.  Alcohol is seldom used to lessen or enhance the impact of other drugs and medication.

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of two distinct taxonomies that summarize various forms of problematic substance abuse.

EXAM II:

Therapists working with addicted clients in the action stage of the stage-of-change model should apply interventions that involve dramatic relief in order to facilitate movement to the maintenance stage of therapeutic change.          True          False

Which of the following is false?

A.  A minority of alcoholics and addicts continue in treatment following detoxification.
B.  Intensive outpatient treatment is the preferred form of intervention for those who are able to function at home and at work, and offers many of the same services as inpatient treatment.
C.  Prisons are an appropriate setting in which to offer services for chemically dependent and dual-diagnosed inmates (e.g., 12-step programs, structured groups, therapeutic communities).
D.  Rational Recovery is a self-help program that links addictive behavior to cultural oppression that can take the form of racism and sexism.

What are the pros and cons of a Johnson-style family intervention?

FINAL EXAM:

Irv, a white male in his late forties, was well known at the local substance abuse treatment facility.  He had been admitted about six times in the past year as a result of his excessive use of alcohol.  Irv's most prominent withdrawal symptom was severe tremors.  His medical history also included several bouts of gastritis.  The detox staff was always able to manage his care without referral to a hospital, and it was remarkable how much better Irv looked after a five-day stay.  Irv was a cooperative and quiet client.  He worked as a welder and his boss would bring him in when he got drunk.  As soon as he was sober, Irv's boss would put him back to work.  Irv was divorced, never saw his grown children, and didn't seem to have any friends.  He had no trouble consuming two fifths of whiskey when he went on a binge.  The detox staff was never successful in persuading Irv to continue treatment.  It seems that the thing Irv liked least was talking.  He came to AA sometimes, but never said much.  Irv did get an AA sponsor, a member with a history a lot like his own.  Irv often managed to put a few months of sobriety together, but his binges, although less frequent, continued, and he returned for detoxification intermittently.

What additional data, focusing both on the presenting concern as well as sampling from various life domains, would you like to gather and why?  How do you propose to obtain this information and what are the costs/benefits of your assessment plan?

What are your diagnostic impressions of this case?

Given the information that you have about this case, albeit limited, how might you conceptualize Irv's alcohol problem and treatment history according to the stage-of-change model and another, more focused theoretical formulation?

Using the stage-of-change model, derive a detailed treatment plan that includes several distinct methods of intervention.  Indicate how you might tailor your stage-of-change approach to the specific aspects of this case (e.g., Irv's history, current situation, and personality).