Tweakers
Dealing With the Drug Induced Or Mentally Disturbed Attacker
In a number of the forums that I surf, one common question that pops up with more and frequency is the issue of having to deal with an attacker that may be high on drugs or experiencing mental health challenges. As can be appreciated, drug abuse and mental health issues are real public health concerns that all communities are facing in today’s real world, due to a variety of social challenges that we face as a society. More and more people are turning to ways to escape from reality (drugs) and more and more of those who have mental health challenges are being released into our communities often being left to self medicate. It is also very common that those with mental health challenges will also turn to illicit drugs to help them cope with their often twisted perception of reality.
As a law enforcement officer with over 18yrs of experience (mostly street level narcotics enforcement) I have seen my share of Tweakers who are experiencing an Excited Delirium state due to drug (usually a Central Nervous System stimulant such as cocaine and crystal meth) or psychosis (bi-polar/schizophrenia) and even a combination of both. Often those in an Excited Delirium state present in the following way:
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Unbelievable strength
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Impervious to pain
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Able to offer effective resistance against multiple subjects
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Overheating (hyperthermia)
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Sweating
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Bizarre and violent behaviour
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Aggression
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Hyperactivity
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Extreme paranoia
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Incoherent shouting
When dealing with those who are tweaking due to drug and or psychosis one should remember wherever possible:
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Keep your distance
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If possible lower the lights (light is a stimulant to those tweaking) this is important for those who may be using white light as a self defence tool
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Slow your speech and lower your voice
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Slow your physical movements (any movement will be seen at 10 times speed by a tweaker and thus seen to be a sign of an assault is imminent to their perception of threat)
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Keep your hands visible
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Keep tweakers talking is possible (cognitive pattern interruption)
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Walk away and create distance slowly
If the above noted pre-contact intervention/ de-escalation skills fail or are inappropriate due to the totality of the situation, remember that pain compliance techniques (unarmed strikes, joint locks, pressure points) “USUALLY” DO NOT WORK on those in an Excited Delirium state. Due to their extremely high tolerances to pain, even breaking techniques (depending upon the bone or joint targeted) may not stop those who are experiencing an Excited Delirium due to drug and or psychosis. I personally have seen those who have had what appeared to be severe disabling injuries (including the loss of vision) continue to fight with pure feral intent.
It is my opinion, that if attacked by a Tweaker who is experiencing an Excited Delirium, they are very capable of causing you death or grievous bodily injury thus making it a deadly force encounter. If escape is not an option, and I cannot get to a real or improvised weapon (Firearm, knife, impact tool), I will resort to the use of a Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint. I, and other LEO’s, have used this technique on several tweakers in the past with excellent results. Be aware, however, that anytime force is used against a tweaker who is experiencing Excited Delirium (including lower lethality techniques) sudden and unexpected death proximal to restraint/self protection is a reality.
Tweakers experiencing an Excited Delirium are very dangerous and extremely unpredictable. Thankfully, these types of subject are very identifiable and such, should be easily seen if one is using “awareness” while out and about. If one cannot avoid, evade, and escape through the art of awareness, and things do go physical, violence of action is an extremely important physical tactic if being attacked by a Tweaker.
Darren
January 18, 2009 at 6:49 pm | Uncategorized | No comment