Health and Diseases – Drugs and Alcohol Abuse: NEET MCQs with Answers

15 free questions on Health and Diseases – Drugs and Alcohol Abuse for NEET (UG), starting with previous-year NEET and AIPMT questions. Try each one, then tap Show answer for the answer and a short explanation.

Syllabus covered: Drugs and Alcohol Abuse

Practise all 146 Health and Diseases – Drugs and Alcohol Abuse questions free Take a free timed test

Question 1

Previous-year question
Identify the molecules (A) and (B) shown in the figure below and select the right option giving their source and use. [AIPMT 2012]
(Molecule — Source — Use)
Figure for question 1
  1. (A) Cocaine — Erythroxylum coca — Accelerates the transport of dopamine
  2. (B) Heroin — Cannabis sativa — Depressant and slows down body functions
  3. (B) Cannabinoid — Atropa belladonna — Produces hallucinations
  4. (A) Morphine — Papaver somniferum — Sedative and painkiller
Show answer
Answer: (D) (A) Morphine — Papaver somniferum — Sedative and painkiller
Explanation: Structure (A) is morphine, the principal opium alkaloid obtained from Papaver somniferum; it is a strong analgesic with sedative and calming effects and is very useful in patients who have undergone surgery. Structure (B) is a cannabinoid obtained from the inflorescence of Cannabis sativa and affects the cardiovascular system.

Question 2

Previous-year question
The drug called 'heroin' is synthesised by [NEET 2019]
  1. Methylation of morphine
  2. Acetylation of morphine
  3. Glycosylation of morphine
  4. Nitration of morphine
Show answer
Answer: (B) Acetylation of morphine
Explanation: Heroin, chemically diacetylmorphine, is obtained by acetylating morphine, which itself is extracted from the latex of the opium poppy. It is a white, odourless, bitter crystalline compound and a strong depressant.

Question 3

Previous-year question
Which part of the poppy plant is used to obtain the drug 'smack'? [NEET 2018]
  1. Flowers
  2. Latex
  3. Leaves
  4. Roots
Show answer
Answer: (B) Latex
Explanation: Smack (heroin) is prepared from morphine, which is extracted from the latex exuding from the unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum. The flowers, leaves and roots are not used for this purpose.

Question 4

Previous-year question
An opiate narcotic among the following is [AIPMT 1993]
  1. bhang
  2. charas
  3. heroin
  4. nicotine
Show answer
Answer: (C) heroin
Explanation: Opium is derived from the unripe seed pods of the poppy plant Papaver somniferum. It has an analgesic effect and reduces anxiety and tension, lowering blood pressure and breathing rate. Opium and its derivatives — morphine, codeine and heroin — are collectively called narcotic drugs.

Question 5

Previous-year question
The alkaloid ajmalicine is obtained from [AIPMT 1995]
  1. Atropa
  2. Papaver
  3. Curcuma
  4. Sarpagandha
Show answer
Answer: (D) Sarpagandha
Explanation: Ajmalicine is obtained from Sarpagandha, whose botanical name is Rauwolfia serpentina of the family Apocynaceae. It is used in the treatment of circulatory diseases.

Question 6

Previous-year question
Which one of the following is an opiate narcotic? [AIPMT 1997]
  1. Barbiturates
  2. Morphine
  3. Amphetamines
  4. LSD
Show answer
Answer: (B) Morphine
Explanation: Narcotics are a group of painkillers that include heroin, morphine, codeine and methadone, all of which are derived from opium. Latex is the gummy resin-like substance found in the unripe pods of the poppy plant.

Question 7

Previous-year question
Which one of the following depresses brain activity and produces feelings of calmness, relaxation and drowsiness? [AIPMT 2005]
  1. Valium
  2. Morphine
  3. Hashish
  4. Amphetamines
Show answer
Answer: (A) Valium
Explanation: Valium (diazepam) is a benzodiazepine tranquilliser that depresses brain activity and produces calmness, relaxation and drowsiness. Amphetamines are stimulants, morphine is an opioid painkiller and hashish is a cannabinoid that alters perception.
Doing well? Create a free account to take timed tests on this topic and see your weak areas.

Question 8

Previous-year question
A person showing unpredictable moods, outbursts of emotion, quarrelsome behaviour and conflicts with others is suffering from [AIPMT 2006]
  1. schizophrenia
  2. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
  3. mood disorders
  4. addictive disorders
Show answer
Answer: (B) Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Explanation: Borderline personality disorder is a mental disorder in which the patient has self-image problems that cause an inability to manage emotions. Such patients show unstable moods, outbursts of emotion, quarrelsome behaviour and conflicts with others.

Question 9

Previous-year question
Which one of the following is the correct statement regarding the psychotropic drug specified? [AIPMT 2008]
  1. Hashish causes altered thought perceptions and hallucinations
  2. Opium stimulates the nervous system and causes hallucinations
  3. Morphine leads to delusions and disturbed emotions
  4. Barbiturates cause relaxation and temporary euphoria
Show answer
Answer: (A) Hashish causes altered thought perceptions and hallucinations
Explanation: Charas or hashish is the dried resinous extract from the flowering tops and leaves of Cannabis sativa; it is a hallucinogen that alters a person’s thoughts, feelings and perceptions. Opium is a depressant, morphine relieves severe pain, and barbiturates cause a hypnotic effect inducing dizziness.

Question 10

Previous-year question
Select the correct statement from the ones given below. [AIPMT 2010]
  1. Barbiturates, when given to criminals, make them tell the truth
  2. Morphine is often given to persons who have undergone surgery as a painkiller
  3. Chewing tobacco lowers blood pressure and heart rate
  4. Cocaine is given to patients after surgery as it stimulates recovery
Show answer
Answer: (B) Morphine is often given to persons who have undergone surgery as a painkiller
Explanation: Morphine is used to relieve severe pain and is commonly given after surgery. Barbiturates are medicines for depression and insomnia; cocaine is a natural stimulant that delays fatigue; and chewing tobacco raises, rather than lowers, blood pressure and heart rate.

Question 11

Previous-year question
Cirrhosis of the liver is caused by the chronic intake of [AIPMT 2012]
  1. opium
  2. alcohol
  3. tobacco (chewing)
  4. cocaine
Show answer
Answer: (B) alcohol
Explanation: On intake, part of the alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde, which stimulates the formation of fat that is deposited on the artery walls and in the liver. Gradually the liver hardens and dries as its cells are replaced by fibrous tissue — this degeneration is called liver cirrhosis (Laennec’s cirrhosis).

Question 12

Previous-year question
Which one of the following is a hallucinogenic drug? [NEET 2013]
  1. Caffeine
  2. Morphine
  3. Lysergic acid diethylamide
  4. Opium
Show answer
Answer: (C) Lysergic acid diethylamide
Explanation: LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a potent hallucinogen derived from lysergic acid, a compound found in ergot fungus. It causes optical and auditory hallucinations and induces behavioural abnormalities, whereas opium and morphine are opiate narcotics and caffeine is a stimulant.

Question 13

Previous-year question
Which part of the poppy plant is used to obtain the drug “smack”? [NEET 2018]
  1. Flowers
  2. Latex
  3. Roots
  4. Leaves
Show answer
Answer: (B) Latex
Explanation: Smack or heroin is extracted from the latex of the poppy plant. This latex, also known as raw opium, is dried and converted into a pure powdered form.

Question 14

Previous-year question
The drug called ‘heroin’ is synthesised by [NEET (National) 2019]
  1. acetylation of morphine
  2. glycosylation of morphine
  3. nitration of morphine
  4. methylation of morphine
Show answer
Answer: (A) acetylation of morphine
Explanation: Heroin is synthesised by acetylation of morphine and is chemically diacetylmorphine, commonly called smack. It is an opium derivative used as medicine, but its excessive use causes addiction.

Question 15

Previous-year question
The coca alkaloid, cocaine, is obtained from [NEET (Odisha) 2019]
  1. Papaver somniferum
  2. Atropa belladonna
  3. Erythroxylum coca
  4. Datura
Show answer
Answer: (C) Erythroxylum coca
Explanation: Cocaine is extracted from the coca plant Erythroxylum coca, native to South America. It interferes with the transport of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Want more Health and Diseases – Drugs and Alcohol Abuse questions?

E-GYAN NIDHI has 146 questions on this topic and 63,000+ in total, all free: timed CBT tests, NEET marking and instant analysis.

Register free Free Sunday Mock Test

More topics in Biology and Human Welfare

↑