what is pepper spray used for

Pepper spray is a defensive device used to temporarily stop a threat and allow the user to escape physical harm from their assailant. It is a lacrimator, meaning that it stimulates the eyes to produce tears, and it typically comes in an aerosol or spray bottle. The main component of pepper spray is an oil known as oleoresin capsicum, which comes from plants in the genus Capsicum, including chili peppers. The active ingredient in pepper spray is capsaicin, the same chemical that adds the characteristic heat to chili peppers. Pepper spray is used as a less lethal weapon in policing, riot control, crowd control, and self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears. Its inflammatory effects cause the eyes to close, temporarily taking away vision, which allows officers to more easily restrain subjects and permits people in danger to use pepper spray in self-defense for an opportunity to escape. Pepper spray causes irritation of the eyes, skin, and mucus membranes, and its immediate impact may be intense, but after a few hours, the effects should wear off completely. Pepper spray use is controversial, particularly when members of law enforcement units use it against civilian protestors.