A Psychoactive drug is a mood-altering chemical substance. It primarily affects the central nervous system by altering brain function resulting in changes in behavior, perception, consciousness and cognition. Psychoactive drugs induce elation and euphoria, hallucinations or altered sensory experiences.

While psychoactive drugs are can be used for recreational purposes, such as a narcotic, some cultures use psychoactive drugs in the form of herbs, for use during spiritual quests or rituals.

Chakotay revealed to Kathryn Janeway that in the past, Native Americans used psychotropic herbs while embarking on vision quests to induce an altered state of consciousness. With the advent of modern technology, however, they moved away from using drugs to induce hallucinations and instead discovered the akoonah, a device that affects one's mind just like the herbs. (VOY: "The Cloud")

One example of a powerful psychoactive drug is the semisynthetic drug LSD.

External linksEdit

• Psychoactive drug at Wikipedia