A client is receiving opioid therapy for pain management. The nurse is educating the client about the effects of long-term opioid use. Which statement by the nurse best explains the concept of drug tolerance?

A. “You may become addicted to the medication and need it to feel normal.": Addiction involves compulsive drug-seeking behavior and psychological dependence, which is distinct from physiological tolerance. Tolerance refers specifically to reduced pharmacologic effect over time, not the development of a psychological need for the drug. B. "You will not experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the medication suddenly.": Withdrawal symptoms occur when the body has adapted to long-term opioid exposure and the drug is abruptly discontinued. This reflects physical dependence, not tolerance. Educating about withdrawal is important, but it is separate from explaining tolerance. C. "You may need higher doses of the medication over time to achieve the same level of pain relief.": Tolerance occurs when repeated exposure to a drug reduces its pharmacologic effect, requiring progressively higher doses to achieve the original therapeutic outcome. This is a normal physiological adaptation to prolonged opioid therapy. D. "You will no longer get any therapeutic effects from this drug.": Tolerance does not typically eliminate all therapeutic effects; it reduces responsiveness, meaning higher doses may be needed to maintain efficacy. Complete loss of effect is not a defining feature of drug tolerance.