Intoxication

Defenses to Crimes: Intoxication

Introduction to Intoxication

Intoxication, whether caused by alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescribed medications, may produce a state of mind resembling insanity. An intoxicated offender often cannot distinguish right from wrong or may have an irresistible impulse. For intoxication to be used as a defense against a crime, it must be involuntary (for example, if one is forced to consume an intoxicant, or if one consumes an intoxicant without knowledge of its mentally disabling nature).” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Intoxication in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Intoxication

In this Section

Criminal Law Elements (including Wrongful Act and Mental Fault), Defenses to Crimes (including Insanity, Age, Intoxication, Duress, Mistake, Self-Defense and Entrapment) and Crime Parties (including Principals

and Accessories).