National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Practice Exam

Which of the following is a potential long-term effect of opioid overuse?

1. Decreased sensitivity

2. Hyperalgesia

3. Improved mood

4. Reduced pain perception

The correct answer is: Hyperalgesia

The selection of hyperalgesia as the correct answer relates to the phenomenon where an individual becomes more sensitive to pain as a result of prolonged opioid use. This paradoxical outcome occurs because the body's pain regulation mechanisms can become dysregulated after extended exposure to opioids. Instead of reducing pain, the overuse of opioids can lead to an increased sensitivity, meaning that painful stimuli which might not have been perceived as intensely before can now cause greater discomfort or pain. This underscores the complexity of opioid medications, where, despite their intended purpose of pain relief, their misuse or overuse can lead to unintended and challenging complications, such as hyperalgesia. The other options reflect effects that are not aligned with the well-documented outcomes of opioid overuse. Decreased sensitivity would imply a reduction in pain perception, which generally is not a long-term effect associated with opioids. Improved mood can occur with some short-term relief from pain, but it is not a guaranteed long-term effect and may diminish with tolerance to the medications. Reduced pain perception typically serves as the primary desired outcome of opioid therapy but does not represent the potential long-term complications that can arise from overuse.