Understanding Tolerance in Psychoactive Drug Use

Consider the following scenario: After experiencing chronic pain following a serious injury, a patient is prescribed an opioid medication. Over time, the patient finds that they need to increase the dosage to achieve the same level of pain relief, leading to dependence on the medication. In relation to psychoactive drugs, which term best describes the patient's need for increased dosage?

Understanding the specific terms associated with psychoactive substances is crucial to comprehending their effects and implications on human behavior and physiology. In this regard, knowing the distinctions between tolerance, dependence, and addiction can shape our understanding of how drugs influence states of consciousness.