What is the history of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC)?

• A. OC has been in use for over 25 years and is used thousands of times per day.
• B. OC was invented last year.
• C. OC has never been widely used.
• D. OC is no longer in use.

Answer: (A)

OC has a long history of use, spanning several decades and broad, ongoing deployment. It’s a pepper-based irritant derived from capsaicinoids, developed and adopted for non-lethal self-defense and crowd-control purposes well before the 21st century. Because it has been in active use for more than 25 years and is applied by many law enforcement agencies and civilians around the world on a daily basis, the description of long-standing use and widespread, frequent deployment is the most accurate reflection of its history. The other statements—being newly invented, never widely used, or no longer in use—contrast with the well-documented, ongoing presence and frequent application of OC today.