College

As tolerance to cocaine increases, it becomes necessary to:

A. Decrease the dosage
B. Increase the dosage
C. Maintain the same dosage
D. Stop taking cocaine

Answer :

As tolerance to cocaine develops, users must increase the dosage to achieve the same effects. Cocaine causes vasoconstriction, leading to increased blood pressure. Extended use can lead to a dangerous pattern of binges and addiction. Therefore the correct answer is b) Increase the dosage

As tolerance to cocaine increases, it becomes necessary to increase the dosage of the drug to experience the same effects. Cocaine tolerance is indicative of the brain's adaptation to the excess presence of dopamine caused by the drug, requiring users to consume more to achieve the desired euphoria. Cocaine use results in various health risks, including vasoconstriction, which increases blood pressure. Vasoconstriction reduces the diameter of blood vessels, elevating blood pressure and posing additional health risks like strokes and heart attacks. Cocaine dependence can be psychological or physical, with physical dependence leading to severe withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use.

Repeated cocaine use can result in a cycle of increased consumption to maintain the high, potentially leading to binges and raising the likelihood of addiction. Cocaine routes of administration, such as snorting, smoking, and injecting, directly influence the intensity and duration of the high experienced. Understanding the dangers associated with each method, including the heightened risk of infectious diseases through certain routes, is crucial for harm reduction.