National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The correct answer is tolerance. Tolerance develops in users of hallucinogens after repeated doses, meaning that with continued use, an individual may find that they require increasingly larger doses to achieve the same effects they initially experienced with smaller amounts. This occurs as the brain and body adapt to the presence of the substance, leading to diminished sensitivity over time.

In contrast, dependence refers to a state where individuals may feel a strong compulsion to use the drug to avoid negative feelings or cravings, which is not typically associated with hallucinogens in the same way as with substances like opioids or alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms involve physiological reactions that can occur when a drug is discontinued, but hallucinogens generally do not produce severe withdrawal effects. Acute effects are the immediate impacts of the drug during or shortly after use, rather than a change that develops over time with repeated use.