The best defense is to not be around druggies.
I'm not sure if your story is true or not.
But it seems to me that you need to find ways to avoid these situations. Why were you there? Why was he there?
Now if your situation is true the way you handled it is best. In other words, it's exactly what we say, don't fight unless you have to as the risks are just too high.
Now with that said, I doubt you'd find that someone would want to stab you with their needle full of drugs. My gut reaction is that theyd want the drugs for themselves. But it does raise the quesiton of what to do in the rare case you can't get away. So...
First, there's a saying that if you fight someone with a knife expect to get cut. Sure there are defenses but a skilled knife fighter will probably cut you. So I'm sure a needle isn't much different. My gut reaction is to use a belt, jacket, or anything you can find to keep distance. This isn't the kind of situation to play around and it's exactly the kind where years of training, learning to keep cool under pressure, and being aware of what's around you will help in.
Other than that, speed, and ability to do grabs, and take downs are vital. But the approach isn't something that I can explain in text. They'd be things we'd work through in the dojo with something like a felt tip pen to simulate the needle, and to show you what works and what doesn't.
Its not a new drug, its been around a long time.
You did not need to concern yourself as to whether you can take him out or not. because you can still take them out but the thing that makes this situation so dangerous is that needle. Its much worse than a knife in the sense that with a knife you will still get cut defending yourself but it may not be life threatening, however with a needle one jab anywhere on your body and the effects are still the same.
EDIT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...
He does not need to get a vein.... he can stab you ANYWHERE and the results are the same. It does not need to go in a vein. You can get a disease from it just from being scratch by the needle and drawing blood. so no matter where he stabs you, you are facing the possibility of life with a disease.
I'd like to give some input on this issue.
Recognizing the increased threat level is the first step to dealing with someone such as you have described. You did, in fact, handle yourself well in that situation considering he wanted to close distance and you were able to avoid contact and conflict. As Mr. Miagi said, "Best way to win fight,... not be there."
If you ever do have to deal with someone who is under the influence of drugs, or may have a mental condition, it is quite possible simple strikes, pressure points, and joint manipulations, will not have the normal affect they would against an "average" opponent. Under these circumstances it can be a critical mistake to wait to figure out how much force is actually needed. Applying limited force to someone who is "hyped" may only serve to energize them to a much more aggressive level, this can allow them a greater opportunity to do you harm because you did not eliminate the threat immediately.
My opinion:
If faced with this type of opponent, and you can NOT evade and disengage from the situation, address the weapon issue first (of course) and use debilitating strikes to semi-critical target areas to drop and/or disable the assailant. Although their cognitive processes and pain reception may be compromised, techniques that result in damage to limbs, or the head, can render the threat mute if they are no longer physically able to engage you further.
While it is not necessary to use lethal force, in the most extreme circumstances it may be required to survive the situation. That is a choice only the individual can make for themselves, but one MUST be prepared to do what is necessary to make it out alive.
its best to avoid the situation or talk your way out of it, drugs will in general numb certain areas of the body and heighten the sensitivity of others, different drugs effect different areas. but beside the weakness the drug gives the body still has certain inherent weakness.
and no im not going to go into details online or with complete strangers. my advice is still the same avoid the situation
I ran into a meth head he had a needle out was holding it in a aggressive way. He was a guy I knew I kept distance but he kept trying to close it. I got away from him because he came too an walked off. But is it true they can't be ko'd and feel little pain. Woukd a choke or strangle work faster because of the tachycardia meth induces. Would a leg kick to blow out a knee work? Would arm bars be out of the questions. How would you deal with a situation like this. It was a scary feeling beyond distance managment I didn't feel like there was much I could do as I didn have a weapon. I've done knife and blunt object training but never neddle full of meth training. Could anyone more experienced shead some light as its susposed to be Australia's new crack.
