A student notices that after repeated opioid use, the same amount no longer reduces pain as effectively. What explains why the same dose becomes less effective over time?

With repeated opioid use, the body can develop tolerance: it adapts so the same dose produces a weaker effect, including less pain relief. This is why a person may need a different dose to get the earlier effect. The correct choice is “The body adapts and reduces the drug’s effectiveness over time.”

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