National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

Which term describes the action of a drug that facilitates a neurotransmitter's action?

1. Dispatcher

2. Antagonist

3. Agonist

4. Modifier

The correct answer is: Agonist

The term that describes the action of a drug that facilitates a neurotransmitter's action is "agonist." Agonists are substances that bind to receptors in the brain and mimic the effects of naturally occurring neurotransmitters. This means they can enhance, increase, or facilitate the normal action of neurotransmitters, leading to a particular response in the body. For example, opioid agonists like morphine bind to opioid receptors and produce pain relief effects similar to the body's own endorphins. In contrast, the other terms refer to different actions of drugs. A dispatcher does not have a specific meaning in pharmacology related to neurotransmitter activity. An antagonist, on the other hand, is a substance that binds to receptors but blocks or dampens the biological response rather than facilitating it. Finally, a modifier could refer to various substances that change the effectiveness or nature of neurotransmitter action but does not specifically denote facilitation as an agonist does.