Drug tolerance occurs when a subject's reaction to a drug (such as a painkiller or intoxicant) decreases so that larger doses are required to achieve the same effect. In addicted patients, the resulting pattern of uncontrolled escalating doses may lead to drug overdose. Addiction is a compulsion to repeat a behaviour regardless of its consequences. ... A drug overdose occurs when a chemical substance (i. ...

Tolerance may be related to the familiarity of "drug onset cues". The body is conditioned to respond to environmental cues such as the sight of a needle, and actually produces the beginnings of physiological responses before the drug is introduced. If there is no actual drug that follows, or if the dose is too small to produce the expected effect, it can trigger intense cravings in the addict. This may explain why "just one drink", or even the sight or presence of familiar alcohol cues, can cause a relapse in a recovering alcoholic. Alcoholism is a multifactorial illness based upon possibly both genetic and environmental factors which is best explained as a continued detrimental use of alcohol or other sedatives despite ones best interest. ...

Tachyphylaxis is a medical term referring to the rapid development of drug tolerance. Tachyphylaxis is the diminution of a pharmacological response during the continued or repeated administration of an activating substance. ...

See also:

• desensitization
• physiological tolerance
• physical dependence
• Mithridatization

In a different context, drug tolerance can refer to the lenient policies of a government or organization toward drugs that are considered illegal in other areas. For example, the distribution of marijuana has been legal in the Netherlands since the early 1970s, and the state of California continues to test the legality of its medical marijuana laws. Desensitization is a method to reduce or eliminate an organisms negative reaction to a substance or stimulus. ... In physiology, tolerance occurs when an organism builds up a resistance to the effects of a substance after repeated exposure. ... // Definition Physical dependence describes increased tolerance of a drug combined with a physical need of the drug to function. ... Mithridatization is the practice of protecting oneself against a poison by gradually self-administering non-lethal amounts. ... Species Cannabis indica Cannabis ruderalis Cannabis sativa Cannabis is a genus of flowering plant that includes one or more species. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 3rd 410,000 km² 402. ... Cannabis sativa extract. ...

Drug intolerance is another social issue. Many law enforcement and civic agencies (such as schools and scouting groups) advocate a zero tolerance policy towards drugs, meaning that any infraction of existing laws and regulations will be punished, no matter how small. A zero-tolerance policy is a policy of having very little tolerance for transgressions: any infraction of existing laws and regulations will be punished, no matter how small. ...