Incapacitating AgentsCFS. James R. Knight JrCBRN SLC Class 003-14Overview of Incapacitating AgentsThis article will identify and discuss what an incapacitating agent is. It will identify some moments in history where attempts to use incapacitating methods were successful and other times when they failed. We will talk about the different “types” of neutralizing agents. Neutralizing agents are methods used to weaken an enemy force without causing permanent damage. These are not expected to be life-threatening and should be easily recoverable or treatable. There are two basic types of incapacitating agents; non-chemical and chemical. Within each type, there are different methods or routes of exposure/effect used to incapacitate the opponent. Hearing aids and microwaves are not chemical. Chemical methods include: olfactory agents, nerve agents, vesicants, irritants, nausea-producing agents, indole psychedelics, phenethylamine psychedelics, opioids, dissociative anesthetics, tranquilizers and anticholinergic delusions. The majority of studies focus on the chemical type, as this is the most promising in terms of success. Incapacitating agents, in one form or another, were experimented with as early as 600 BC, when the Greek king Solon ordered his troops to throw hellebore roots into waterways that supplied chemicals. water for his enemies. King Solon's goal was to neutralize the enemy with diarrhea. Then, in 200 BC, an officer in Hannibal's army, Maharbal, poisoned wine with Mandragora and left for the uprising of the African tribes he was facing. The tribe hungrily drank the wine and the Maharbal killed or captured the disabled enemy soldiers. In an incident in 1672, the Bishop of Munster used pomegranates filled with Belladonna; however...... middle of paper ...... tates unruly patients. Anticholinergic delirants or belladonnas show the most promise as chemical compounds used to neutralize. Belladenoids cause delirium in victims and block the central and peripheral muscarinic effects of acetylcholine. BZ is the most common of the synthetic belladonnaoids. BZ can cause mild delirium, loss of attention, and drowsiness in low doses. Walking around hard, looking lost and screaming at higher doses. I describe it as a zombie-like trance. Recovery may take 24 hours after symptoms appear. However, the onset of symptoms is relatively slow, making BZ ineffective for military use. This is only a general overview of incapacitating agents. There are other types that have not been covered. With advances in modern science, a suitable, fast-acting, non-lethal incapacitating agent could be developed in the near future...