Final answer:
A psychoactive drug that causes sensory and/or perceptual distortions typically falls into the category of hallucinogens, which profoundly alter perceptions of reality and can lead to addiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a psychoactive drug produces sensory and/or perceptual distortions, it is typically classified as a hallucinogen. These drugs cause profound changes in a person's perceptions of reality, which can include visual and auditory hallucinations, intensified feelings, and sensory experiences such as brighter colors or sharper sounds. Some drugs may also lead to mixed senses, such as "seeing" sounds or "hearing" colors, and altered perception of time. Hallucinogens can also impact mood, thinking, and behavior, which in some cases may lead to addiction due to changes in brain chemistry affecting neurotransmitter activity.
Examples of hallucinogens include substances like LSD, mescaline, nitrous oxide, and psilocybin. These drugs work by either acting as agonists, enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters, or as antagonists, decreasing it. The changes in neurotransmitter systems throughout the brain result in the significant sensory and perceptual distortions experienced by users.