Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Substance Use Disorders Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Substance Use Disorders related questions and content

A client has a blood alcohol level that is double the legal limit for driving yet does not exhibit behaviors of intoxication. The nurse knows that this is due to which effect?

  • A. Tolerance
  • B. Addiction
  • C. Alcoholism
  • D. Relapse
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Tolerance occurs when the body develops mechanisms to reduce the effects of a drug through persistent use. This results in the need to increase the amount of a substance to obtain the desired effect. Addiction is a term that refers to drug-seeking behavior that interferes with work, relationships, and normal activities. Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by an inability to control the consumption of alcohol in which tolerance develops. Relapse is a term referring to the return to drug or alcohol use after a period of abstinence.