ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Psychoactive drug

A psychoactive drug is a type of medicine or substance that can change the way you think or feel. It is like magic medicine that can make you feel happy or sleepy, or excited, or even make you hallucinate. These are drugs that affect your brain and can alter your emotions, thoughts, and behavior.

Think of it like playing with a toy, but instead of it being a toy, it’s something you put in your body – like food, soda or even medicine – that can change the way you play. But the thing is, some of these things can change the way you feel so much that it can be dangerous and make you unwell.

Psychoactive drugs can be helpful for treating medical conditions like pain, anxiety or depression, but they need to be used properly and under the supervision of a doctor or trusted adult. Misusing them, or taking too much, can lead to addiction, overdose, or even death.

In short, psychoactive drugs are like a special kind of medicine that we can take when we're sick, but we need to be careful because they can make us feel really different inside, which can be dangerous if we don't use it carefully.