Stims

Nothing yet is known of the chemical composition of the stimulant known as stims, or if the term refers to one substance or a class of several. The word stim is an abbreviation of "stimulant."

Galactica's pilots are forced to use them in an attempt to stay alert after four continuous days on Condition One and Two alert status after their initial escape from Ragnar (33). During this time, when Lee Adama, Kara Thrace, Sharon Valerii and Alex Quartararo are flying CAP, Crashdown describes the feeling of stims as "ants crawling behind his eyeballs."

Starbuck believes that stims dull her flying skills, and initially refuses to take hers until ordered by the CAG, Lee Adama.

Overuse or overdosing on stims can cause irrational, violent, and psychotic behavior.

Viper pilot Louanne Katraine severely damages her Viper and injures herself when her stim use reaches a point where she can barely fly or understand instructions (Final Cut). Later, when the use of stims is suggested during a particular grueling mission, Katraine argues strongly against their use, stating it would tax the starving pilots' system too greatly. Stim use for the mission is then left up to individual discretion (The Passage).

Stims are a likely component of a Colonial medkit.

Notes

In real life, stimulants, or amphetamines, are used by combat pilots to maintain alertness.