10 Times Star Trek Depicted Addiction

 In the Star Trek: Voyager episode Alice, Tom Paris obsesses over an alien shuttlecraft, demonstrating what psychologists refer to as behavioral or process addiction.

According to Caron Treatment Centers, a process addiction is a compulsive behavior that a person engages in and continues pursuing regardless of negative consequences.  Instead of ingesting a substance, the person chases the dopamine 'high' produced by the behavior.

Acquired from a space junkyard, Alice features a neurogenic interface that interacts directly with the pilot's brain. This makes it faster and more maneuverable than even the Delta Flyer. 

As Paris begins fixing Alice, its artificial intelligence projects itself directly into his mind as a beautiful woman. Even when he doesn't see her, he's haunted by her voice, driving him to increasingly negative behavior.

He ditches his uniform for a flight suit, argues with Alice, cancels plans with Harry Kim, ignores his personal hygiene, forgets his duties, demands supplies that can't be spared, steals equipment, and neglects his relationship with B'Elanna Torres.

Counselor Jessica Fassburg suggests cutting off your access to problematic hobbies. When Paris attempts to cut ties with Alice, the neurogenic interface shocks his brain. Addicts can feel discomfort when they can't pursue their behavior. 

Addicts can pursue their behavior despite negative consequences. Under Alice's influence, Paris takes the shuttle on a test flight toward a dangerous anomaly. 

Paris is connected directly to the ship's systems through a tangle of wires resembling nerve fibers, a perfect visual metaphor for addiction's changes to the brain.  Mirroring the way addicts lose their identities to their addictions, Alice informs Paris that they've merged into one. 

Paris is saved from an untimely demise by the intervention of his family: Voyager's crew. Torres appears alongside Alice, distracting Paris from the flight long enough for Tuvok to beam him home.