What term refers to the capacity to endure the effects of a drug?

The term that refers to the capacity to endure the effects of a drug is tolerance. Tolerance develops when an individual regularly consumes a substance, leading to a decrease in the drug's effects over time. As a result, a higher dosage may be needed to achieve the same effect that was once experienced at a lower dosage. This phenomenon is particularly relevant in pharmacology and addiction studies, where understanding how tolerance develops can inform treatment approaches for substance use.

Compared to other terms like physical dependence, which includes withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of the drug, and feedback or decoding, which do not relate specifically to the effects of drug consumption, tolerance directly addresses the body's adaptation to the presence of a substance. Thus, it is clear why tolerance is the correct answer in this context.