Biochemical processes

• Crime control policies: drug treatment programmes

  • Antabuse: Studies on biochemical reactions to substances like alcohol have led to the development of drugs like Antabuse which is used in aversion therapy to treat alcoholism. It immediately causes unpleasant 'hangover' symptoms if the user consumes even a small quantity, therefore acting as a deterrent
  • Managing prisoners - sedatives and tranquillisers as methods to keep people calm
• Diet modifications:

  • Vitamin B3 has been used to treat some forms of schizophrenia ~
  • dietary changes used to control hyperactivity (which may lead to offending) for example removing artificial colouring from children's diets
• Surgery has been used to alter offender's brains or bodies with the aim of preventing them from offending. e.g. through:

  • surgical castration of sex offenders
  • lobotomy: major procedure in which the connection of the frontal lobes of the brain and the thalamus are cut
• Crowd control and public order offences: methods aimed at controlling groups by using chemical substances.

  e.g. tear gas may be used to disperse rioters or control crowds as it causes uncomfortable or distressing situations such as breathing difficulties.
• Crime control policies: drug treatment programmes

  • Heroin addiction - Methadone is a long-term alternative or used to prevent withdrawal symptoms. It is legal and medically controlled.

  
  

  • Sex offenders - stilbestrol is a form of 'chemical castration' as it is a female hormone that suppresses testosterone to reduce a men's sex drive
• What is the alternative used for heroin addictions?

  Methadone
• Which hormone is given to sex offenders as it suppresses testosterone to reduce a man's sex drive?

  Stilbestrol
• What are the two surgeries used to change offenders' brains or bodies?

  Lobotomy, surgical castration
• What drug is used to treat alcoholism?

  Antabuse