←Glossary
    Chemistry

    Psychoactive

    Any substance that crosses the blood-brain barrier and affects brain function, altering perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.

    The term is much broader than "psychedelic," encompassing caffeine, alcohol, antidepressants, and cannabis alongside classical psychedelics. Nearly every culture in recorded history has used psychoactive substances in some form. Understanding this breadth helps contextualize psychedelics within the larger landscape of human relationships with consciousness-altering compounds.