Which condition indicates a person may be consuming excessive amounts of a drug?

The condition that indicates a person may be consuming excessive amounts of a drug is tolerance. Tolerance refers to a physiological adjustment to a drug that results in the need for a higher dose to achieve the same effect that was once attained with a lower dose. This often happens because the body becomes accustomed to the presence of the drug, leading the individual to consume more in order to feel the desired effects.

As tolerance develops, it can signal that a person has been using the drug excessively, as their body is no longer responsive to the original doses. This can lead to a cycle where the individual continues to increase their intake, often without recognizing the potential risks or harms associated with such behavior.

Other options relate to substance use but describe different aspects or consequences of drug use. Dependency refers to a physical condition where the body becomes reliant on the drug to function normally, while withdrawal denotes the symptoms experienced when the drug is reduced or eliminated. Abuse refers to the harmful use of substances but does not specifically indicate the physiological changes like tolerance does.