The sympathetic neurons releases norepinephrine, also called noradrenaline, and the cells of the adrenal medulla release norepinephrine and epinephrine, also called adrenaline.
As people take more opioids to compensate for tolerance, noradrenaline levels become lower and lower, to a point that could impact basic bodily functions.
This increased sensitivity to noradrenaline allows the body to continue functioning normally— in fact, it becomes dependent on opioids to maintain the new balance.