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The need to take larger and larger doses of a drug in order to experience its effects is an indication of:

A. Withdrawal
B. Dissociation
C. Resistance
D. Tolerance
E. Narcolepsy

User TPoy
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The need for increasingly larger doses of a drug to achieve the same effects indicates tolerance, a condition where the user's body adapts to the drug and requires more to get the same effect (D). This is part of the spectrum of drug misuse, which can include addiction and physical or psychological dependence, but tolerance specifically refers to the physiological changes necessitating higher doses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The need to take larger and larger doses of a drug in order to experience its effects is an indication of tolerance. Tolerance is a condition that develops over time whereby the user needs increasing amounts of the drug to achieve the desired effect that was once attained with a smaller dose. This is different from withdrawal, which refers to the variety of negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued. Addiction and dependence can also occur, where addiction is the compulsive use of a drug despite negative consequences and dependence can be either physical or psychological, with physical dependence often leading to withdrawal symptoms when drug use is stopped.

It's important to distinguish tolerance from other terms such as withdrawal, psychological dependence (which refers to drug craving), and physical dependence. While all these concepts are related to the misuse of substances, tolerance specifically means that the user's body has adapted to the drug's presence and requires more of it for the same effects. This process can ultimately lead to a dangerous escalation of drug intake and raises the risk of overdose and death.

User Mike Driscoll
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