Most people learn about aphrodisiacs to enhance their own pleasure. US military experts had something else in mind when they were investigating aphrodisiac weapons. The idea was simple: spray the enemy with an aphrodisiac so powerful that they would all have sex with each other, which would disrupt logistics and cause morale to plummet.

The idea, which came to light through the Freedom of Information Act, was discussed in a 1994 Air Force document on their non-lethal chemical weapons program. The Aphrodisiac Option was described in these terms:

Chemicals that effect [sic] human behavior so that discipline and morale in enemy units is adversely effected [sic]. One distasteful but completely non-lethal example would be strong aphrodisiacs, especially if the chemical also caused homosexual behavior.

Between 1994 and 2000, nearly $8 million was spent on the larger program that included this idea. Sceptics would describe this as a fine waste of taxpayer money, as they don't believe an aphrodisiacs would be so strong and effective.

Officially, the research involved searching the literature, talking to experts, and writing reports. But those wise in the ways of secrets and conspiracies are quick to point out that if the military did actually discover such a weapon, they sure wouldn't tell the public, and they might cover their tracks with disinformation about how they were bungling and wasteful bureacrats.

I remember reading a story in Penthouse (or was it Playboy) in the 1970s - it was a nice piece of fiction about an aphrodisiac so powerful that it made people lose control and hump the closest person they could find. This aphrodisiac was used against a politician running for office - the superdisiac was put in an aerosol container that was smuggled into a public speech, and the politician and a few people nearby were dosed after they got on stage and the cameras were rolling. It was a happy ending, if a bit messy and embarassing.

Regardless of what you believe about aphrodisiacs, puberty and hormones alone are enough to raise serious issues about free will. The biological imperative to reproduce is so strong that people are driven to do crazy things in the name of love and lust.

Index terms: weapon, war, pheromone