truth serum
A truth drug (or truth serum) is a psychoactive drug used to attempt to obtain information from an unwilling subject, most often by a police, intelligence, or military organization. [1]
The emerging consensus did not stop the most notorious search for truth serum — the CIA’s Project MK-ULTRA. [2]
After taking “truth serum” the patients become very communicative, sharing their thoughts without hesitation. [3]
“In vino veritas” — “in wine there is truth” — is sometimes attributed to the philosopher Pliny the Elder. [2]
Any of various hypnotic or anesthetic drugs, such as scopolamine or thiopental sodium, used to induce a subject under questioning to talk without inhibition. [4]
“Texas voters deserve to know the truth about Pete Olson’s apparent disregard for the law,” said Kyra Jennings, Southern Regional Press Secretary for the DCCC. [5]
The modern fascination with truth-eliciting drugs began in 1916 when an obstetrician named Robert House, practicing in a town outside Dallas named Ferris, saw a strange event during a home delivery. [2]
So-called truth drugs have included ethanol, scopolamine, temazepam, and various barbiturates including the anesthetic induction agent sodium thiopental (commonly known as sodium pentothal): all are sedatives that interfere particularly with judgment and higher cognitive function. [1]
The terrorists gave him a shot of a drug that would make him disclose secret information. [3]
The DCCC released a new television advertisement today on Republican candidate Pete Olson (TX-22) being investigated for voter fraud. [5]
In the comedy film Jumping Jack Flash, James Belushi gives Whoopi Goldberg some truth serum to find the whereabouts of her spy friend. [...] A book by the former Soviet KGB officer Yuri Shvets based in Washington details the use of near-pure ethanol to verify that a Soviet agent was not compromised by U.S. counterintelligence services. [1]
The duration of the anesthesia is very short; it only causes a few minutes of sedation. [3]
It has been reported that “truth drugs” have been used by Russian secret services, successors of the KGB, and India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). [1]
Therefore, the patient will not tell the truth if he/she chooses not to do so. [3]
Sources:
[1] Truth drug - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_drug)
[2] Some Believe ‘Truth Serums‘ Will Come Back (www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/
[3] What is Truth Serum? (www.psicologia.freeservers.com/
[4] truth serum: Definition from Answers.com (www.answers.com/topic/truth-drug)
[5] Truth Serum Blog (truth-serum.blogspot.com)