NCJ Number
159782
Date Published
1994
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video, presented in a lecture format, discusses the nature and symptoms of a drug-related psychosis and how police should respond to subjects who manifest such symptoms.
Abstract
The lecturer, Bill DeVane of RIPP Restraints, Inc., identifies cocaine (and other drugs) psychosis (or "excited delirium state") as a cause of the "sudden custody death syndrome" that may occur shortly after a police encounter with a subject who has this psychosis. Symptoms of this psychosis include bizarre and aggressive behavior, fear, high body temperature, profuse sweating, public disrobing, irrational shouting, unexpected physical strength, violent behavior, paranoia, panic, and jumping into water. When confronting a person who manifests these symptoms, the video advises a police officer to call and wait for strong backup before contacting the subject, since it is unlikely that one or two officers could subdue the subject. After backup arrives, officers should swarm the subject, subduing him with the weight and excessive strength of the team. Officers should never "hogtie" (leg restraints hooked to wrist restraints behind the subject's back while he rests on his stomach) any subject. In the case of a drug psychosis, which results in rapid heart beat, combined with an intense struggle with officers, hogtying can restrict breathing to the point of asphyxiation and death. Although death has resulted from drug psychosis without accompanying hogtying restraints, such restraints contribute to breathing difficulty. The video recommends ankle and wrist restraints and the placing of the subject in an upright or sitting position, such that respiration is not restrained. An accompanying booklet contains terminology, behavioral symptoms, and a written exam to be administered after viewing and discussing the video.