Question

Which of the following is a common explanation for tolerance in heroin addiction?

1) increased brain levels of the drug with repeated use
2) the body's attempt to compensate for the effects of the drug
3) the loss of homeostatic regulation after taking drugs
4) the drug is metabolized less efficiently with repeated use
5) heroin is more slowly cleared from the brain with repeated treatments

Answer 1

Tolerance in heroin addiction is commonly explained as the body's attempt to compensate for the effects of the drug, leading to a need for increased doses to achieve the same euphoric effect. Therefore, the correct answer is 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

The common explanation for tolerance in heroin addiction is the body's attempt to compensate for the effects of the drug. Tolerance occurs when a drug user requires more and more of a given drug to experience the same effects they once did with a smaller dose. This phenomenon is due to physiological changes in the brain's neurochemistry, particularly the downregulation of receptors and alteration in neurotransmitter systems such as dopamine, resulting in the need for higher doses to achieve the desired euphoric effects.

Heroin, a major opioid of abuse, is known for producing intense feelings of euphoria, making it highly addictive. Physical dependence and tolerance develops with sustained use, causing individuals to use increasingly larger amounts to overcome the tolerance and receive the same pleasurable effects. Additionally, this tolerance increases the risk of overdose and death. It's a stark reminder of the dangers of heroin and substance abuse.