: How does the body build up a tolerance to drugs and alcohol?
In: Biology
Imagine your body has locks (receptors) that drugs and alcohol can open to create certain effects. Here’s how tolerance works:
Rusty Locks: With repeated use, the locks get used to the drug and become less sensitive. They’re kind of rusty and the drug doesn’t open them as easily anymore.
Faster Cleanup Crew: Your body also gets good at cleaning up the drug. It’s like having a faster cleanup crew, so the drug doesn’t stick around as long.
Both these things mean you need more and more of the drug to get the same effect you used to from a smaller dose. This is why tolerance can be dangerous – you might take too much trying to feel the same way you did before.
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