The sliders are placebos for micro management!
lol, no seriously, I struggle to feel they have any effect. The formula is that the slider value (going from 0 to whatever is displayed at the top) is divided by 100.0, and added to the weight of that drug, or addict, appearing, which are typically, but not necessarily rated at 0-1.0 by default (it varies). All weights are relative, so you have to know the weights for all the other items, which vary as the game progresses. So I absolutely sympathise with any confusion.
Being part puzzle game, I wanted to let the player figure stuff out. Being part simulation, there are parts that are modelled by complicated equations.
Hope this sheds some light. Thanks for playing.