Final answer:
The term for building tolerance to drugs within the same class is 'cross-tolerance'. It involves needing more of the drug for the same effect, which is different from psychological dependence or physical dependence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the building of tolerance to other drugs in the same class as the one being used is 'cross-tolerance'. Cross-tolerance occurs when a drug user requires increasing amounts of a substance to achieve the formerly experienced effects. Over time, as tolerance develops, users might explore plateauing — alternating, overlapping, or substituting with another drug to avoid tolerance — but it's important to note that these actions do not mitigate the harmful medical consequences of drug use. Tolerance differs from psychological dependence, which refers to drug craving, and from physical dependence, which is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued.