Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The term "truth serum" refers to a number of mind-altering drugs. These drugs make you incapable of lying, or so the theory goes.

Truth drugs and hypnotism. Any TV espionage agent worth his salt knows that these are surefire tools for compelling a reluctant subject to tell the truth. Most lately they were employed in New Orleans ...

OK I have heard of this "truth drug" before and I know it is used in anesthesia, but how does it apply as a "truth serum"? What other kinds of truth serums are there? Does this stuff actually work?

What's the straight dope on truth serums? What are they? What exactly do they do? Do sodium pentothal and the like really make witnesses spill their guts? What’s the straight dope on truth serums?