The adolescent patient is in a drug rehabilitation program. The mother of this patient says to the nurse, "The doctor said my son has a physical addiction to alcohol. What does this mean?" What is the best response by the nurse?
1. "His brain remembers the euphoria he had with alcohol, and he has a craving to return to it."
2. "He will have an intense craving for alcohol; this is best managed in group therapy."
3. "His body is used to alcohol; he will have specific withdrawal symptoms when it is stopped."
4. "He will have feelings of depression when stopping alcohol; we need to monitor him for suicide."
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale: Over time, the body's cells become accustomed to the presence of the unnatural substance. Specific, physical withdrawal symptoms will occur; the patient needs to be medically withdrawn from the substance. Psychological dependence, or craving, does not involve physical withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol does produce euphoria, but a craving for the substance is not a medical issue. Depression may accompany physical withdrawal, but physical signs are what require medical management.
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