Question

INFER. Why might an addiction to a drug become more expensive as the body develops a tolerance to the drug?

Answer 1

Because tolerance means the body needs more of the drug to get the same effect. Biologically, tolerance arises from things like faster drug metabolism or receptor down‑regulation/desensitization, so the same dose produces less effect over time. Practically that means:

- The user must buy larger doses or take the drug more often → direct increase in money spent.
- They may switch to stronger/purer (and often more expensive) forms to achieve the desired effect.
- Indirect costs rise too: more health care, treatment for side effects/overdoses, legal problems, lost income from impaired functioning.

So as tolerance grows, both the quantity and sometimes the quality of drug needed increase, driving up the overall cost of the addiction.