Effect of Tasers on Drug Addicts

A common instance of death, after being stunned with a Taser, occurs most likely for drug users. This poses a debatable question- Do you blame the Taser, drugs, or a combination of both for the cause of death?

A Taser delivering a 50,000 volt shock can sometimes be too much for someone under the influence of drugs to handle. This condition induced by drugs is known as "excited delirium". A U.S. study shows that out of 21,000 uses of "less lethal" weaponry, including Tasers, people were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol 23% of the time. When someone "high" on drugs dies after being shocked by a Taser, it usually occurs in a hospital or sometime after the incident. Generally since it doesn't happen right away, some argue that the drugs are the only cause of death.

In an effort to prevent more deaths, Taser victims who show signs of "exited delirium" will receive immediate medical attention. A tranquilizer can be injected to calm the person down. Taser International has warned police departments of the potential deadly side affects of repeated shocks to those suffering from exited delirium.

Police departments still feel that the use of Tasers are a safe "non-lethal" alternative. Police say that Tasers are preferable over the use of other weapons such as guns. Although, some cases show that police may be abusing the use of tasers.