ABSTRACT
Personal defense sprays containing oleoresin capsicum (OC) were first developed in the 1970s as an alternative to o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) and chloroacetophenone (CN). A highly effective irritant, OC (“pepper spray”) has received considerable attention within the civilian and governmental sectors as a useful and highly effective nonlethal agent. Pepper spray is commonly utilized by both law enforcement personnel and civilians as a form of legal, nonlethal self-protection and has gained widespread acceptance by law enforcement agencies and the public. Individuals affected by OC sprays include law enforcement personnel, criminals, persons accidentally exposed as well as crime victims. Pepper spray is sprayed to the face in order to subdue an assailant resulting in the quick onset of OC-induced effects on the eyes, mucous membranes, and skin. Although pepper spray has gained widespread acceptance, a number of concerns have surfaced pertaining to its use. These include medical (i.e. safety and toxicity of OC, particularly with regard to long-term use), technical (i.e. product specification and effectiveness), operational (i.e. training and safety procedures), and legal/policy issues (i.e. potential for misuse and abuse, guidelines regulating use). The medical and legal concerns have led to reevaluation of OC-based defense sprays as a safe and effective “use-of-force” option to subdue and control violent and/or combative individuals. Concerns have also prompted the development of defense sprays containing “synthetic capsaicin” (nonivamide), whose proponents claim provide greater safety and effectiveness than conventional OC-sprays. Furthermore, the medical and legal concerns have also led to the widespread inclusion of OC-exposure drills to the basic training of law enforcement officers.
