History Main / AddictionPowered

** The Bene Gesserit are also an example, particularly demonstrated in Literature/GodEmperorOfDune when they are forced to supplicate to GodEmperor Leto II for their Spice allocation. Also noteworthy in Literature/ChapterhouseDune in showing the Sisterhood's need to re-create the Spice after the Honored Matres both destroyed Rakis and Tleilax, the two sources of the drug, it also had an updated version of the Agony portrayed.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' Jet is, in-universe, an analogue to meth or crack. In the modern sequels, it restores action points, except in ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' where it induces BulletTime. Noteworthy in that it's presented as nothing but a drug, in a world where radiation is basically magic and functional SuperSerum exists in the form of [[PsychoSerum Psy]][[http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Psycho cho]]. It should also be known that it was first synthesized from the fumes of Brahmin shit[[labelnote:Why?]]Pre-War cattle were given a cheap protein extract to boost meat production but any bacterial contamination caused the chemical to breakdown and turn the meat into a methamphetamine. The cows were fed the stuff to cover the loss of profits[[/labelnote]] and the drug's effects are made more potent using a mix of sugars from soda or [[ChocolateFrostedSugarBombs breakfast cereal]] and cleaning agents or using flamethrower fuel.

* During the ''Film/BirdsOfPrey'' movie, Harley is in a fight with Sionis's people at a police warehouse and has taken cover behind a huge stack of cocaine as three of the guys open fire on her. The white powder gets everywhere, and Harley not only gets a whiff of it but decides to inhale the loose powder, which gets her all geared up and ready to kick ass with a [[BatterUp baseball bat]].

A subtrope of AddictiveMagic. Related to DrunkenMaster (when the character is indeed an alcoholic and much stronger after a drink), BoozeBasedBuff and MustHaveCaffeine. Compare PowerHigh. See also ItsSnowingCocaine, and PowerUpFood.

[[quoteright:341:[[ComicBook/TheNewGuardians https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/snowflame_5617.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:341:[[Film/RedHeat COCAINEM!]]]]

* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'': Each Contractor has a "[[PowerAtAPrice remuneration]]" that they need to indulge for their powers to work, some of which fall under this trope. The HardDrinkingPartyGirl April is lucky enough that her remuneration is to drink alcohol, which she loves; conversely, the StraightEdgeEvil agent November 11 absolutely hates being forced to smoke cigarettes.

* {{Inverted|Trope}} with [[TheAlcoholic Fujusawa-sensei]] from ''Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld''. He gains SuperStrength as a result of coming to El-Hazard, but only when he ''stops'' drinking. He's not happy about this. He's also a chain smoker, so it's further inverted when he finds he gets even stronger when he stops smoking. He's also not happy about this.

* ''ComicBook/TheNewGuardians'' villain Snowflame is the poster boy for this trope (he's the page image!), having actual observable supernatural abilities powered by cocaine, which he worships as a god.
* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'': Give a few drops of alcohol to a tired Captain Haddock, and he'll be good as new. [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy Just make sure he doesn't get too much]].

* {{Averted|Trope}} in ''ComicBook/CaptainAlcohol'', where the use of alcohol hinders his abilities as opposed to helping them.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'', those who have recently used cocaine and similar drugs tend to recover faster from the title character's TruthSerums and sleep agents. {{Justified|Trope}} as [[TruthInTelevision stimulant drugs and narcotics (including the truth serum) do in fact counteract each other]].
* The weird-ass ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD'' comic ''Storming Heaven'' revolves around superhumans being born from experiments with LSD in the 1960s. Unfortunately, this also gives rise to new supervillains like Charles Manson.

* In the superheroes parody ''WebVideo/SuperTherapy'', Franchise/TheFlash gets his SuperSpeed from what he calls "Flash Powder". His therapist rightly concludes that he's addicted to cocaine.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* During the ''Film/BirdsOfPrey'' movie, Harley is in a fight with Sionis's people at a police warehouse and has taken cover behind a huge stack of cocaine as three of the guys open fire on her. The white powder gets everywhere, and Harley not only gets a whiff of it but decides to inhale the loose powder, which gets her all geared up and ready to kick ass with a [[BatterUp baseball bat]].
* In ''Film/GunsAkimbo'', ''Skizm'' reigning champion, [[ActionGirl Nix]], is already pretty deadly on her own, but when she takes a hit of crack, she is instantly invigorated and fights like she just got a power-up (complete with power-up sound effects).

* In Creator/LawrenceWattEvans' ''Literature/TheLegendsOfEthshar'' books, the magical power that warlocks have was given by something, possibly a meteorite. It suddenly awoke power in thousands of people. The more that warlocks use their power, the more powerful they get, the more they want to use it, but when they use too much of it, they are compelled to fly to the source and are never heard from again. It's portrayed as an addiction.
* ''Literature/SzamankaOdUmarlakow'': Kwiatuszek ("Flower"), whose AwesomenessByAnalysis powers are powered by junk food and caffeine. They still make her fat, but she long ago decided that she won't be a BrainlessBeauty.

* In ''Literature/WildCards'', Captain Trips has several different {{Superpowered Alter Ego}}s, each of which is triggered by taking a different derivation of LSD.
* In ''Literature/SuperPowereds'', Hershel's SuperpoweredAlterEgo Roy comes out only when Hershel has some whiskey. This appears to be part of the procedure that turned Hershel from a [[PowerIncontinence Powered]] into a Super. Subverted in that no addition is involved (and Hershel isn't a big drinker anyway). Also, after turning into Roy, whiskey doesn't have any further effect, except keep Roy active. In Year 2, Roy meets a freshman, who ''loves'' beer to the point of obsession. Ironically, it turns out that his SuperStrength is far more affected by hard liquor than beer. The kid gets stronger the more alcohol he consumes, but he also gets more drunk and can't sustain it for long.
* ''Literature/{{Deathstalker}}'': Valentine Wolfe is the son of a preeminent nobleman in the galaxy's DecadentCourt, who uses a frankly astounding variety of {{Fantastic Drug}}s. These include ones that grant SuperReflexes, SuperStrength, HyperAwareness, RubberMan resilience, and daydreams so lurid that he can NoSell a PsychicAssistedSuicide because it's ''tame by comparison''. No few of those drugs were intended for sexual purposes before he got hold of them, effectively {{invert|edTrope}}ing (well, [[ZigZaggedTrope zig-zagging]]) PowerPerversionPotential.

* On ''Series/WKRPInCincinnati'', Johnny and Venus get drunk and then have their reflexes measured live on-air as a PSA against drunk driving. For some reason, the more Johnny drinks, the better his reflexes are.

* There was a ''Series/ForeverKnight'' episode where Natalie found that a drug called Lidobuterine (sp?) seemed to cure Nick's vampirism. However, it turned into the drug being addictive, and in order to remain 'human', Nick had to keep taking it and get more and more of the drug at once.

* ''Series/MadTV1995'': Stan the Coffee Guy is a [[MustHaveCaffeine coffee addict]], though he usually tries to fight his addiction. When he goes berserk in a coffee factory a security guard tries to take him down with a taser, but the stuff has made Stan so hyperactive that he's immune to electric jolts. The confused guard then tries tasering himself and ends up knocking himself unconscious.
* In Series 2 of ''Series/Danger5'', Pierre gets SuperSerum effects from snorting cocaine off people's tits. At one point he even dips his guns in a pile of cocaine to shoot coke-covered bullets.

* Grifters in ''[[TabletopGame/{{Deadlands}} Deadlands Noir]]'' are spellcasters who derive their powers (or, more precisely, their ability to draw power from the Hunting Grounds) from some addictive and self-destructive vice, either a substance or a habit such as gambling.
* Adepts in ''TabletopGame/UnknownArmies'' play much like this, as they gain their charges by religiously sticking to a pattern of behavior that is somehow self-destructive and lose their powers if they act against it. This can be as simple as Plutomancers hoarding money or Videomancers having to catch absolutely every episode of a TV show, but Dipsomancers, Narco-Alchemists, and Ustrinaturges gain power from literal substance addiction; for Dipsomancers it's booze, Narco-Alchemists it's drugs, and for Ustrinaturges it's smoking. Part of playing such Adepts is balancing the magical power you get with the health effects of your habits- and none of your spells are going to help you negate the negative consequences of being that type of Adapt to begin with.

* ''VideoGame/PunchOut'''s Soda Popinski[[note]]Originally named VodkaDrunkenski[[/note]]. He drinks huge amounts of soda, even in the ring. The drink restores his stamina and increases his punching power, albeit for a short time.
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'': Unlike the mages, who simply get a power boost from [[AppliedPhlebotinum Lyrium]], the Templars' abilities are powered solely by it. However, it is also addictive as hell, and the [[TheChurch Chantry]] monopolizes Lyrium trade to keep its Templar junkies on a short leash. Just to make the situation murkier, Alistair has the abilities of a Templar despite never finishing his training, and Warrior characters in both games can get the Templar PrestigeClass. Lyrium does boost Templar abilities, but it's unclear how necessary it is. Things get worse in ''Videogame/DragonAgeInquisition'' when a faction of Templars start using Red Lyrium, an even more powerful and dangerous variant of lyrium [[spoiler:tainted by the Blight.]]

* The insane crime boss Jack Lupino in the original ''VideoGame/MaxPayne1'' overdoses on Valkyr and takes an ungodly amount of lead into the body before he bites the dust. [[FridgeBrilliance Justified much later]] by TheReveal that [[spoiler:Valkyr was originally developed by US military to create {{Super Soldier}}s, and were working completely as intended on Lupino... [[SideEffectsInclude except for the side effects]], which resemble amphetamine psychosis with a side of MushroomSamba.]]
* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' setting, the drug Red Sand is capable of enhancing biotic powers, though it's considered an illegal narcotic in most parts of the galaxy.
* In ''Videogame/MotherRussiaBleeds'', the street drug Nekro (a thinly veiled expy for Krokodil) is used as a power-up that can heal you or send you into a temporary berserk mode. It also serves as a constant peril for the protagonists, who are motivated by their desire to get this shit out of their system, with the final boss being [[spoiler:a hallucinatory manifestation of the drug itself that you must defeat without juicing up in order to get the best ending]].
* In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' Jet is, in-universe, an analogue to meth or crack. In the modern sequels, it restores action points, except in ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' where it induces BulletTime. Noteworthy in that it's presented as nothing but a drug, in a world where radiation is basically magic and functional SuperSerum exists in the form of [[PsychoSerum Psy]][[http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Psycho cho]]. It should also be known that it was first synthesized from the fumes of Brahmin shit[[labelnote:Why?]]Pre-War cattle were given a cheap protein extract to boost meat production but any bacterial contamination caused the chemical to breakdown and turn the meat into a methamphetamine. The cows were fed the stuff to cover the loss of profits[[/labelnote]] and the drug's effects are made more potent using a mix of sugars from soda or [[ChocolateFrostedSugarBombs breakfast cereal]] and cleaning agents or using flamethrower fuel.
** ''Fallout 4'' also has an unusually literal example in the "Junkie's" legendary weapon effect, which increases the weapon's damage the more substances the Sole Survivor is addicted to. There's also Mama Murphy, one of the earliest [=NPCs=] you meet. She claims to have "the sight", a form of prescience that's triggered by taking various drugs. The companion Cait will also admit, once her reaction to you gets high enough, that her combat abilities are due to her being a massive Psycho addict, to the point where she's started puking blood on a regular basis and begs you to take her to a nearby Vault for an experimental treatment before it kills her.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Rimworld}}'', Luciferum is a very advanced glitterworld drug that makes the user a host for nanomachines. After only one dose, the user becomes a superhuman worker and fighter enhanced in mind and body, immune to disease, and able to recover any lost body part (even brain damage!). However the user is forever addicted to the Luciferum and without a weekly dose, the nanomachines break down, causing the user to go berserk. If they aren't killed in self-defence, they eventually die anyway.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''WebVideo/FalloutNukaBreak'', it's revealed in Season 2 that [[spoiler:Twig has drunk so much Nuka-Cola in his life that it has ''altered his DNA'', to the point that drinking Nuka-Cola gives him a minor HealingFactor. For instance, a two-day-old bullet wound appears to have been healing for over a week.]]

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "[[Recap/FuturamaS4E16ThreeHundredBigBoys 300 Big Boys]]" has Fry tap into the [[Franchise/TheFlash speed force]] when he gulps his hundredth coffee cup of the episode.
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Peter Griffin can play the piano beautifully, but only when he's blackout drunk.

* ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead'': Anytime Beavis consumes a significant amount of sugar, caffeine or any other stimulant, he becomes jittery and hyperactive. Then, the moment he hears a Spanish-sounding word, a switch flips and he becomes the Great Cornholio.

* In ''Film/Scarface1983'', Tony's cocaine allowed him to take a ''lot'' of punishment before going down.

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "300 Big Boys" has Fry tap into the [[Franchise/TheFlash speed force]] when he gulps his hundredth coffee cup of the episode.

* The insane crime boss Jack Lupino in the original ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' overdoses on Valkyr and takes an ungodly amount of lead into the body before he bites the dust. [[FridgeBrilliance Justified much later]] by TheReveal that [[spoiler:Valkyr was originally developed by US military to create SuperSoldiers, and were working completely as intended on Lupino... [[SideEffectsInclude except for the side effects]], which resemble amphetamine psychosis with a side of MushroomSamba.]]

A subtrope of AddictiveMagic. Related to DrunkenMaster (when the character is indeed an alcoholic and much stronger after a drink), BoozeBasedBuff and MustHaveCaffeine. Compare PowerHigh. See also ItsSnowingCocaine, CaffeineBulletTime, and PowerUpFood.

Usually, nobody else will get this kind of powers from this substance. '''Not''' some kind of SuperSerum or PsychoSerum, or anything similarly exotic. The drug was not ''designed'' to give them superpowers, it just inexplicably does.

A subtrope of AddictiveMagic. Related to DrunkenMaster (when the character is indeed an alcoholic and much stronger after a drink), BoozeBasedBuff and MustHaveCaffeine. Compare PowerHigh. See also ItsSnowingCocaine, CaffeineBulletTime and PowerUpFood.

* {{Inverted|Trope}} with [[TheAlcoholic Fujusawa-sensei]] from ''Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld''. He gains SuperStrength as a result of coming to El-Hazard, but only when he ''stops'' drinking. He's not happy about this. He's also chain smoker, so it's further inverted when he finds he gets even stronger when he stops smoking. He's also not happy about this.

** Somewhat explained: Gingold can increase flexibility in most people who drink it, but you have to go to serious overdose levels to get actual stretching abilities, which can then be maintained by regular drinking of the normal product. A significant section of the human population is allergic to gingold extract, and thus unable to take advantage of the herb's special properties.

* {{Averted|Trope}} in ''ComicBook/CaptainAlcohol'', where the use of alcohol hinders his abilities as opposed to help them.

* ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'': Pinkie Pie discovered that zebra drugs improved her mysterious "Pinkie Sense" which let her sense danger, and her own enhanced "Party-Time Mint-als" improved it even further. She combined this with her Ministry's [[BigBrotherIsWatching ubiquitous surveillance network]] to root out threats to Equestria by always knowing which leads to follow up on. Unfortunately, [[DeconstructedTrope she was still very much a drug addict]]. Her addiction destroyed her relationships with her friends, until she broke down and sent Twilight a message asking for her to take Pinkie to the clinic after one last mission--her Pinkie Sense was warning her about a big plot, and she needed to wrap it up. [[spoiler:Her troops were only a few minutes late, resulting in Manehatten being destroyed by a balefire bomb. Pinkie's skeleton is eventually found in her office, clutching a figurine of Twilight Sparkle. [[ShaggyDogStory And Twilight never got the message]].]]

* During the ''Film/BirdsOfPrey'' movie, Harley is in a fight with Sionis's people at a police warehouse and has taken cover behind a huge stack of cocaine as three of the guys open fire on her. The white powder gets everywhere, and Harley not only gets a whiff of it, but decides to inhale the loose powder, which gets her all geared up and ready to kick ass with a [[BatterUp baseball bat]].

** The Bene Gesserit are also an example, particularly demonstrated in Literature/GodEmperorOfDune when they are forced to suplicate to GodEmperor Leto II for their Spice allocation. Also noteworthy in Literature/ChapterhouseDune in showing the Sisterhood's need to re-create the Spice after the Honored Matres both destroyed Rakis and Tleilax, the two sources of the drug, it also had an updated version of the Agony portrayed.

** Downplayed. If an allomancer uses their metal too much, they will become a "savant" as their physiology adapts to the power. They receive increased power and efficiency with their metal, but suffer serious withdrawal symptoms if they stop using it.
** The most well known savants are tin savants; burning tin increases all their senses, and tin savants require blindfolds to be able to see, can hear heartbeats from a hundred feet away, and scream when they touch anything (if they run out of tin, their senses become so deadened they FeelNoPain). Tin's opposite, pewter, enhances physical toughness, but most people who would become pewter savants die from pushing themselves too hard before they cross the threshold.

* Similarly, on ''Series/DesigningWomen,'' the girls' wacky friend Bernice is required by her niece to have a competency hearing. The morning of the hearing, they come downstairs to see her drinking some leftover champagne from the night before. This worries them, since Bernice is kooky at the best of times. Bernice then mentioned how she had played loud music the night before to keep the aforementioned niece up all night, saying "Of course I kept her awake all night, does she think I want her fresh for ''my'' sanity hearing?" Mary Jo lampshades it, saying "Liquor seems to have the opposite effect on you, you seem sharper."

* ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'': Randy is an adept liar, con man and all-around competent at doing stuff, but only after he's had four beers. No more, no less.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' Jet is, in-universe, an analogue to meth or crack. In the modern sequels it restores action points, except in ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' where it induces BulletTime. Noteworthy in that it's presented as nothing but a drug, in a world where radiation is basically magic and functional SuperSerum exists in the from of [[PsychoSerum Psy]][[http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Psycho cho]]. It should also be known that it was first synthesized from the fumes of Brahmin shit[[labelnote:Why?]]Pre-War cattle were given a cheap protein extract to boost meat production but any bacterial contamination caused the chemical to breakdown and turn the meat into a methamphetamine. The cows were feed the stuff to cover the loss of profits[[/labelnote]] and the drug's effects are made more potent using a mix of sugars from soda or [[ChocolateFrostedSugarBombs breakfast cereal]] and cleaning agents or using flamethrower fuel.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Rimworld}}'', Luciferum is a very advanced glitterworld drug that makes the user a host for nanomachines. After only one dose, the user becomes a superhuman worker and fighter enhanced in mind and body, immune to disease and able to recover any lost body part (even brain damage!). However the user is forever addicted to the Luciferum and without a weekly dose, the nanomachines break down, causing the user to go berserk. If they aren't killed in self-defence, they eventually die anyway.

* In ''WebVideo/FalloutNukaBreak'', it's revealed in Season 2 that [[spoiler:Twig has drunk so much Nuka-Cola in his life that it has ''altered his DNA'', to the point that drinking Nuka-Cola gives him a minor HealingFactor. For instance, a two day old bullet wound appears to have been healing for over a week.]]

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "300 Big Boys" has Fry tap into the [[Franchise/TheFlash speed force]] when he gulps his hundreth coffee cup of the episode.

A subtrope of AddictiveMagic. Related to DrunkenMaster (when the character is indeed an alcoholic and much stronger after a drink), BoozeBasedBuff and MustHaveCaffeine. Compare PowerHigh. See also CaffeineBulletTime and PowerUpFood.

* ''VideoGame/PunchOut'''s Soda Popinski[[note]]Originally named Vodka Drunkenski[[/note]]. He drinks huge amounts of soda, even in the ring. The drink restores his stamina and increases his punching power, albeit for a short time.

* In ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForEver'', drinking [[LiquidCourage beer allows Duke to take more damage from enemies]] at the cost of having blurry vision for the duration of the buff. Taking steroids disables the ability to use weapons, but allows Duke to deal massive amounts of melé damage. Taking both at the same time allows Duke to [[LudicrousGibs splatter his enemies]] with his fists while taking minimal damage, and nets the player the trophy/achievement "Substance Abuser."

* ''Series/MadTV1991'': Stan the Coffee Guy is a [[MustHaveCaffeine coffee addict]], though he usually tries to fight his addiction. When he goes berserk in a coffee factory a security guard tries to take him down with a taser, but the stuff has made Stan so hyperactive that he's immune to electric jolts. The confused guard then tries tasering himself and ends up knocking himself unconscious.

* ''Series/{{MADtv}}'': Stan the Coffee Guy is a [[MustHaveCaffeine coffee addict]], though he usually tries to fight his addiction. When he goes berserk in a coffee factory a security guard tries to take him down with a taser, but the stuff has made Stan so hyperactive that he's immune to electric jolts. The confused guard then tries tasering himself and ends up knocking himself unconscious.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** Franky's case is a bit different: He's a cyborg who uses cola as an energy source, mostly because he loves cola. (He ''can'' use other carbonated drinks, juices or even tea, with... mixed results.)
** Hody Jones and his crew of [[FishPeople fishmen]] consume great quantities of an "energy steroid" which increases their strength. Hody and one of his allies end up overdosing on it. Instead of dying, however, they [[spoiler:[[OneWingedAngel transform into stronger forms]]. This is only temporary, and they soon suffer from the downside of the steroid - RapidAging.]]

* Inverted with [[TheAlcoholic Fujusawa-sensei]] from ''Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld''. He gains SuperStrength as a result of coming to El-Hazard, but only when he ''stops'' drinking. He's not happy about this. He's also chain smoker, so it's further inverted when he finds he gets even stronger when he stops smoking. He's also not happy about this.
* The "[[FanNickname Druggies]]" in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' are three human mobile suit pilots who have been taking the drug called Gamma Glipheptin to boost their combat powers to the same level as the [[BornWinner Coordinators]] -- with all due consequences to their health and life expectancy.

* Rex Tyler, aka Hourman, derives his powers from synthetic drug "Miraclo," the remaining toxins of which must then be purged in the bloodstream over the following 24 hour period before it can be used again. Rex actually discusses the psychological effects and his reliance on the drug with a concerned Dr Midnite in "The Justice Society Returns!"
** His son, Rick Tyler, the second Hourman, also had this, much to his father's horror. He knew how addictive and harmful Miraclo was for himself so he was really troubled by the idea of his son following him and using it himself. His fears were founded when use of Miraclo caused Rick to develop leukaemia.
** There’s also Miraclo’s vicious derivative, Venom. It’s stronger than Miraclo and doesn’t have the time limit, but when the drug wears off, there’s major drawbacks with withdrawals.
** In the 1992 ''Justice Society of America'' series, it's actually inferred that Miraclo was, essentially, either a placebo or just some sort of toxin; the Tyler family just naturally have SuperStrength and other related abilities, and using Miraclo was just ''unlocking'' it. Training with Jack Chambers, the Golden Age speedster Johnny Quick, allowed Rex and, later, Rick, to activate their powers through just concentration, without the use of the drug.

* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'': Give a few drops of alcohol to a tired Captain Haddock, and he'll be good as new. [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy Just make sure he doesn't get too much.]]
* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in ''ComicBook/{{Empire}}'', where supervillain tyrant Golgoth keeps his minions under control by feeding them a highly addictive power-boosting drug called "Eucharist". It's so addictive that anyone who stops using has a good chance of being driven permanently insane during withdrawal. The inversion becomes apparent with the discovery that [[spoiler: derived from the blood of the defeated superhero Endymion. In other words, Endymion's superhuman biology powers everyone else's addictions.]]
* In Creator/GrantMorrison's ''Comicbook/XMen'', the drug Kick is a highly addictive power-booster that only works on mutants. [[spoiler:It's actually the sentient bacteria Sublime, making it an inversion as well -- Sublime's power is to ''be'' an addictive power source.]]
* In one incarnation of the [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Crime Syndicate of Amerika]], [[SuperSpeed Johnny Quick]] derives his powers from an addictive substance made from the blood of his predecessor in the role. It's never shown to work for anyone else.
** In a later incarnation, after [[Franchise/TheFlash Barry Allen]] comes BackFromTheDead, the previous Johnny Quick does likewise, and now injects himself with his ''own'' blood.
* As shown in ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil2013'', Ultraman gets his powers from grinding Kryptonite into a fine powder and then igniting it with his heat vision so he can snort its fumes.
* Averted in ''ComicBook/CaptainAlcohol'', where the use of alcohol hinders his abilities as opposed to help them.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'', those who have recently used cocaine and similar drugs tend to recover faster from the title character's TruthSerum and sleep agents. {{Justified}} as [[TruthInTelevision stimulant drugs and narcotics (including the truth serum) do in fact counteract each other]].
* The weird-ass ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD'' comic ''Storming Heaven'' revolves around superhumans being born from experiments with LSD in the 1960s. Unfortunately this also gives rise to new supervillains like Charles Manson.
* In ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'', Roller is already a Point One Percenter and thus possesses incredible power for a Cybertronian. In spite of this, he develops an inferiority complex due to spending so much time around Outliers (who possess powers not related to their alt-modes) and thus becomes addicted to the performance enhancing drug C32. This causes serious threats to his health, requiring him to get clean in order to survive.
* The original ''ComicBook/AntMan'', Hank Pym, early on had to ingest Pym Particles like a drug to grow or shrink, at least until it became natural for his body to produce them (an affect caused by overuse of them), which had a demonstrative effect on his mental health; even as early as the 60s it was shown that it caused anger problems and left him unstable. ''ComicBook/TheWasp'' used the same, but had no such issue (nor did [[LegacyCharacter Scott Lang, Cassie Lang, or Eric O'Grady]]), which is later clarified as being because Hank's mental problems were largely unrelated, as he actually just suffered from bipolar disorder, and Pym Particles were merely making his existing condition worse (which is TruthInTelevision).
* ''Franchise/TheFlash'':
** Back in the Golden Age, Jay Garrick had a professional rival named Eric Clarris who managed to work out his SecretIdentity and the cause of his superpowers (inhaling hard water vapours during a smoke break), and used the source of this to gain SuperSpeed himself...but only temporarily, and he had to keep using it like a drug to maintain his powers. He became the Rival, the very first Reverse-Flash.
** Early in Wally West's tenure as the Flash, we're introduced to Velocity 9, a drug that temporarily grants SuperSpeed, but with the result being that it causes severe damage to a person's mental well-being and physically health. It's created and marketed by Vandal Savage, and is also used by the estranged husband of Wally's then-girlfriend Tina [=McGee=], causing him to become the Speed Demon.
** In the late 2000s, we're introduced to a corrupted form of the Speed Force, the Negative Speed Force, which during DC Rebirth is re-hauled into being a mix between this and a GRatedDrug. It causes the speedster's powers to become destructive and harmful, while also slowly killing them from their use; it lacks the regular Speed Force's HealingFactor properties, and causes those who use it to appear drunk. Though not explicit, it's possible to infer that Eobard Thawne's descent into madness might have been caused by the use of it, rather than being connected to the actual Speed Force.

* In ''Film/{{Scarface|1983}}'', Tony's cocaine allowed him to take a ''lot'' of punishment before going down.

* ''Film/ProjectPower'': A new street drug called "Power" gives people a random superpower for five minutes, or they simply explode. A given person gains the same superpower every time they use, and some of them clearly get intoxicated from the rush.
* In ''Film/GunsAkimbo'', ''Skizm'' reigning champion, [[ActionGirl Nix]], is already pretty deadly on her own, but when she takes a hit of crack she is instantly invigorated and fights like she just got a power-up (complete with power-up sound effects).

* ''VideoGame/PunchOut'''s Soda Popinsky[[note]]Originally named Vodka Drunkenski[[/note]]. He drinks huge amounts of soda, even in the ring. The drink restores his stamina and increases his punching power, albeit for a short time.

** Semi-Averted: Gingold can increase flexibility in most people who drink it, but you have to go to serious overdose levels to get actual stretching abilities, which can then be maintained by regular drinking of the normal product. A significant section of the human population is allergic to gingold extract, and thus unable to take advantage of the herb's special properties.

* As shown in ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil'', Ultraman gets his powers from grinding Kryptonite into a fine powder and then igniting it with his heat vision so he can snort its fumes.

** Back in the Golden Age, Jay Garrick had a professional rival named Eric Clarris who managed to work out his SecretIdentity and the cause of his superpowers (inhaling hard water vapours during a smoke break), and used the source of this to gain SuperSpeed himself...but only temporarily, and he had to keep using it like a drug to maintain his powers. He became The Rival, the very first Reverse-Flash.
** Early in the ComicBook/WallyWest tenure [[LegacyCharacter as the Flash]], we're introduced to Velocity 9, a drug that temporarily grants SuperSpeed, but with the result being that it causes severe damage to a person's mental well-being and physically health. It's created and marketed by Vandal Savage, and is also used by the estranged husband of Wally's then-girlfriend Tina [=McGee=], causing him to become the Speed Demon.

* In ''WebAnimation/SocietyOfVirtue'' episode "Blue Crystallic" we see a junkie who hallucinates he is a superhero and that the drugs are the source of his powers.

* ''[[Film/DrunkenMaster The Legend of Drunken Master]]''

** Every other metal has savants, but since they do not cause physical enhancements, the effects are far less pronounced. Most people who use zinc and brass (which control emotions) become savants sooner rather than later, and Wax from ''Literature/WaxAndWayne'' became a steel savant and never even noticed.