Chemical+Castration

Jessica Vitale

Chemical Castration
Chemical Castration is a form of treatment that chemically reduces the libido and sex drive through weekly injections of anti-androgen drugs. (Spalding, 1998). Chemical castration is used on sexual offenders as a form of punishment, to prevent them from committing additional sexually offensive acts.

Drug Use
The Drug used in chemical castration is Depo-Provera (MPA) which has been approved by the FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) as a female contraceptive, but effectively reduces testosterone in men, causing a reduction in sex drive as well.  __ [|http://www.google.com/imgres?i] ____ [|mgurl=http://www.women-health-info.com/images/Depo-Provera-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.women-health-info.com/250-Depo-Provera.html&usg=__cp_HzCZI82BFfx4ErZB7UyqMmo4=&h=225&w=300&sz=18&hl=en&start=0&sig2=2G9IshEys2ASQ1kTTkaT8A&zoom=1&tbnid=RgQiBDrLziCR6M:&tbnh=120&tbnw=160&ei=PYKiTcyVJ8rf0QGguqjPBw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddepo-provera%2Binjection%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1057%26bih%3D576%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=255&vpy=136&dur=189&hovh=130&hovw=173&tx=143&ty=103&oei=PYKiTcyVJ8rf0QGguqjPBw&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0] __

History of Depo-Provera and Effects on Man
John Money and other researchers at John Hopkins University discovered use of Depo-Provera reduces sex drive, while the drug impacts neural pathways to calm sexual feelings, eliminating strong urges and desires in men that were there previously overwhelming (Money, J. 1980). With time, the male may discontinue use of the drug little by little potentially leading to omission of sexual offenses, but rather a consistent sexual relationship with a partner. Counseling in love, attraction, and pair-bonding dysfunctions is essential to such effects on treatment (Money, J. 1980).

History of Chemical Castration
The first state to legalize chemical castration as a form of punishment to sex offenders, was California in 1996, followed by Florida, in addition to eight other states as well. As Christopher Meisenkpthen explains in his article in //Social Justice//, California Penal Statute section 645 made it mandatory for two-time sex offenders to receive Depo-Provera treatment of weekly injections, and leaving the treatment to first-time sex offenders to the discretion of the court (Meisenkothen, 1999).

Positive Effects
Chemical castration can be used as an alternative to incarceration. The ultimate goal is to prevent sex offenders to continue sexual offensive acts. The reduction in re-offending acts has been proven to reduce with usage of hormone altering drug treatment. Larry Helm Spalding explains in the Florida State University Law Review, this drug Depo-Provera effectively suppresses erections, ejaculations, and reduces the frequency and intensity of erotic thoughts (Spalding, L, H.). Such suppressions ultimately prevent the offender from committing sexually deviant behavior. As noted by Dr. Keith Albow, those using Depo-Provera reoffend about one percent of the time, where sex offenders whom do not receive such treatment re-offend 68 percent of the time (Chemical ‘Castration’ Sex Offenders, 2010).

Civil Rights/Ethics The ethics are questionable for various reasons, particularly because in many cases the treatment of weekly injections is involuntary, because the offender was ordered a two-time offender by the court. Chemical castration is questionable to be ethical for the use of drugs alters the personality and thought process of the user. Drugs which can alter one’s personality and behavior is argued to be violating the First Amendment, and can be viewed as violating the Eighth Amendment as cruel and unusual punishment (Spalding, 1997). Cruel and Unusual Punishment Chemical castration is viewed as extremely cruel by researcher John F. Stinneford at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, for two reasons. He explains the purpose of chemical castration is to mentally control the sexual offender, to potentially diminish the sexual desire for children. However, Stinneford points out that those whom commit such offenses are not sexually disordered, but rather seen as antisocial and/or dangerous, furthermore making chemical castration an irrelevant treatment. He continues to discuss the cruelty of chemical castration reason being the health risks associated with inducing a male with female hormones, potentially having long term hazardous and fatal effects, making this treatment more comparable to torture (Stinneford, 2006).

There are a multitude of reasons why the use of chemical castration is controversial.
==== Medical risks are associated with the male use of Depo-Provera because it reduces the male hormone testosterone, which can highly affect a male physically, mentally, and emotionally. Supinda Bunyavanich, M.D. of ABS News Medical Unit explained, physical effects on the use of such drugs “these could include loss of strength, decrease in bone density, and decreased muscle mass…Men with low testosterone were also more likely to have larger waist girth. These men also appeared to be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes” (Bunyavanich, 2007). All of the above can affect the male inadvertently. In addition to having a lower sex drive, the altered physical appearance of the male can affect the how he feels about himself, making him feel less physically attractive. While he may feel less attractive, he ultimately may be perceived less attractive because of a lowered testosterone. He may have a changed personality, be less flirtatious, and lack confidence, which would otherwise be used to sexually communicate. In addition to eliminating sexual urges to children, sexual relations towards a consistent partner may be affected as well, complicating any potential relationship. The reduced amount of testosterone in men, make men more similar to women, ultimately making the man less socially acceptable and sexually desirable. Biologically, humans are physiologically built to respond to sexual stimuli. Because of this, when altering hormones, the natural physiological behavior will be affected, overall affecting the males sexual behavior and communication. The management of sexual desires offensively will remain sustained under usage of Depo-Provera, but the sexual behavior and communication with any partner may be compromised making all forms of sexual behavior chemically reduced, and complicated if even possible, to act on. Overall, the sexual offender is statistically less likely to re-offend, but the chemical injections further leads to a change in social, sexual, and emotional aspects of life. ====