Tolerance

Tolerance is the state that occurs following repeated exposure to a psychoactive substance over time, such that the body requires a greater frequency or increased dosage to achieve the same effect. Tolerance may also occur if the same substance frequency or dosage yields a significantly reduced effect. Tolerance often increases the chance of developing a substance use disorder and is a criterion used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), for diagnosing alcohol, cannabis, inhalant, opioid, stimulant, tobacco, hallucinogen, sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic use disorders. However, the presence of tolerance is not required to make a diagnosis of a substance use disorder. The severity and seriousness of tolerance vary considerably by substance, with some substances (inhalants, cannabis) having infrequent or ...

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