Question

Carl is a junior in college. Over the last 12 months, he has spent his weekends drinking alcohol and playing poker. He does not drink on weekdays but occasionally uses "speed" if it is available to stay awake during the all-night poker games. He then takes Valium so that he can sleep during the day and be rested for the next night's game. Carl's friends are worried that Carl is hooked on drugs and that he can't stop, but Carl claims that he has no problem with his drug use. Carl boasts that he can drink more beer now than he could when he first came to college without becoming as intoxicated or having a hangover the next day. He dismisses the risks associated with mixing alcohol with other drugs like Valium, stating that only people who don't know what they are doing have problems. Carl attends his classes, although he has been missing the early Monday class and his overall grade-point average has dropped this semester. Which of following is TRUE regarding Carl's use of substances?
(a)-He displays characteristics of addictive behavior.
(b)-He has a substance abuse and dependence problem.
(c)-He has a substance dependence problem.
(d)-All of these choices are true.

Answer 1

Answer: The option that is true regarding Carl's use of substances is D) All of these choices are true.

Explanation: All of the choices provided about Carl's use of substances are true. First, he shows that he has characteristics of addictive behaviour when he denies that he has a problem with drug use, when he boasts about his capacity to drink alcohol, and when he dismisses the risks of mixing alcohol and drugs. Moreover, Carl has a substance abuse problem he desires to drink and use drugs day and night and even to mix the substances. He also has a substance dependence problem because, when he is not drinking, he is using "speed" and, when he needs to sleep, he takes Valium. In that way, Carl has both substance abuse and substance dependence problems and he also behaves as an addict.