mugged in Benidorm

In July Graham Heggie, a 27-year-old Scottish holidaymaker, died in the town after a brawl just yards from the apartment in which he was staying. Earlier in the year, Alex Prosser, 73, another British visitor, suffered a fractured skull after being mugged in Benidorm for just £28.

In Kathmandu in mid-August a five-star hotel was bombed

In Kathmandu in mid-August a five-star hotel was bombed, causing no casualties but sending fresh jitters through the tourist trade.

And in rural areas, the Maoists' collection of money from travellers and the targeting of local people involved in tourism have brought the war one step closer to visitors.

Micheal Cornell, a 19 year old British youngster has been sentenced to 99 years

Bangkok Hilton by a Thailand court, which translates in imprisoned for live at Klong Prem prison, nicknamed "The Bangkok Hilton".

The father of the British boy now starting to serve his 99 year "Bangkok Hilton" sentence in Thailand for drug smuggling said today he was "absolutely devastated" by the sentence past on his son.

Michael Connell, 19, was arrested at Bangkok Don Muang airport last November when 3400 class-1 ecstasy tablets were found hidden in 2 body lotion containers in his luggage.

Connell, from Bury, Greater Manchester, escaped the death sentence in Thailand, by admitting yesterday to the Bangkok court, that he was trying to smuggle 2,9 million Baht (US$ 74,500) worth of drugs into Thailand. The sentence passed on him yesterday, was 99 years imprisonment at the "Bangkok Hilton".

Micheal Connell 19 year old from Bury arrested in Thailand trying to smuggle 3000 ecstacy tablets.

the number of british citizens incarcinated abroad has also increased. Many young backpackers pushed into carrying drugs through customs after running out of money, people who have been involved in bar brawls gone wrong on holiday etc.
The difference between us and other nations is that after our citizens have served time abroad they will have to return to serve at least half their original sentance at home which in some cases does not reflect the crime they are being punished for.
For example Micheal Connell 19 year old from Bury arrested in Thailand trying to smuggle 3000 ecstacy tablets. If arrested in Britain would probably serve between 5-7 years. Micheals original sentance - death, changed to 99 years imprisonment as he pleaded guilty. This has recently been reduced to 30 years on appeal. Micheal will most likley serve around 10-12 years in Thailand before returning home to serve possibly another 10-15 years. Is this really fair to imprison a young man for 25-30 years for one mistake which would have resulted in a much lesser sentance in this country? Also bear in mind Micheal will serve his time in Thailand in the notorious Bangkwang (the Bangkok hilton) which is one of the worst prisons in the world.
Other nations such as America and Australia have different prisoner transfer agreements that often see prisoners released within months of being returned to their own countries. Many British prisoners when offered the chance of returning home to to serve out their sentance in britain would prefer to stay in Thailand. Despite being one of the worlds worst jails and the scene of some of the worst human rights abuses, they may stand a better chance of early release. To return to britain may mean another 10-15 years in a maximum security prison but in Thailand they have the possible chance of the kings pardon.
On the other side of this argument is the Paedophiles such as Gary Glitter who commit crimes in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam where punishment isnt as severe. Ok so Gary will serve two or three years in Vietnam but his repeated crimes of grooming and assaulting children would have surley recieved a much longer sentance in this country. Soon though he will be free to return to his old ways without the strict controls you might expect in this country.
So how can we make sure our citizens recieve the treatment they deserve abroad? Does a drug smuggler deserve death or 99 years in jail while a paedophile can get a fairly light sentance? Should we respect the different laws of other countries or should a british citizen be judged by british laws? Do we need to rewrite our prisoner transfer agreements so they are the same as other western countries?
If anyone is interested in supporting people like Micheal Connell or the thousands of other people incarcinated abroad please visit the foreign prisoner support service website. A simple letter or postcard could make someones week. Thankyou as always for reading and i look forward to your views and comments.

A British man who has spent six years in a Thai prison after being wrongly convicted of manufacturing ecstasy

A British man who has spent six years in a Thai prison after being wrongly convicted of manufacturing ecstasy has been released and could be home within the next week, it emerged yesterday.
Jody Aggett, 30, was arrested along with his pregnant Thai girlfriend, Ramphia Lo, in 2001, and charged with manufacturing and possessing narcotics.

He had met Ms Lo while backpacking and had been intending to bring her back to the UK before she gave birth. But by the time they arrived in Bangkok, she was eight months pregnant and could not travel, so they stayed rent-free in a flat above a travel agency in return for opening and closing the shop each day.

A 57-year-old Swiss man has pleaded guilty in a court in Thailand to charges of insulting the king.

Oliver Jufer was arrested last December after drunkenly spray-painting several portraits of the monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

In court, Jufer pleaded guilty to five charges under Thailand's draconian lese majeste law.

He is due to be sentenced later this month, and the maximum penalty he could face is 75 years in jail.

Jufer's lawyer said the

A SYDNEY man was sentenced to death in Vietnam

A SYDNEY man was sentenced to death in Vietnam yesterday for trying to smuggle almost a kilogram of heroin to Sydney in his underwear, as two other Australians prepared to face trial in Hanoi tomorrow on unrelated heroin trafficking charges.

The convicted man, 40-year-old Tony Manh, will be supported in his expected appeal for clemency by the Australian Government, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said last night.

"Recently, the fact that many Australians of Vietnamese descent are involved in trafficking heroin from Vietnam to Australia has become a phenomenon," said Phan Tanh of the People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City.

Manh was caught with the drugs on March 3 at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City as he prepared to board a flight to Sydney. He told the court he was paid $US10,000 to transport the drugs out of the country.

Champion jockey Chris Munce

Champion jockey Chris Munce will fly into Sydney today as part of a prisoner exchange deal with authorities in Hong Kong.

The 37-year-old was jailed for 30 months for his role in a tips-for-bets scam.

New South Wales Attorney-General John Hatzistergos says he will be assessed before being resettled in an Australian prison.

"He'll be taken to the metropolitan remand and reception centre, where he'll undergo an assessment and classification, before being placed in a centre to serve his sentence," he said.

Al-wathba prison in Abu Dhabi

Al-wathba prison in Abu Dhabi is notorious for its human rights abuse, stoning to death, lashings, overcrowding. Inmates sleep in cells designed for 8 which held 22 with 3 lice infested blankets on a cement floor. Some Women have been there 16 years and have no one to assist them. One lady has been there 4 years without any help from her embassy. The Indian embassy does not acknowledge that they have several indian nationals in this place. The Sri Lankan and Phillipine Embassies try and visit once a month. This information has been submitted to us from a westerner who was incarcerated in al-wathba and received no assistance from her embassy at all.
There are more than 300 women, babies and children in this place, family names are not used as a rule.

KNOWN PRISONERS IN AL-WATHBA (not complete)

KNOWN PRISONERS IN AL-WATHBA (not complete)
Name Country Sentence Age Building Notes
Lissy Mathew Orathel India 4 years - - -
Fawzeya Shamsuddin Sri Lanka 16 years - - -
Marina Uzbekistan sentenced to 3 yrs - - -
Amira Debaja Philippines 8 months - - -
Nicole Sri Lanka sentenced 2 yrs - - now released
Jinky Fingnit Phillipines 6 months - - now released
Connie Phillipines sentenced 1 year - - -
Yolanda Phillipines sentenced 5 months - - now released
Gina Phillippines sentenced 8 mths - - now released
Romina Phillipines sentenced 6 months and 80 lashes. - - Now released
Natasha Uzbekistan sentenced 6 months and 200 lashes. - - Now released
JC Malaysia sentenced 6 months - - now released
Mei Lan China sentenced 6 months - - now released
Yang China - - now released
Sui may China - - - now released
Rachelle Phillipines 6 months - - now released
Reem Aza Jordan sentenced ? long time - -

PRISONS IN ABU DHABI

There are several prisons in Abu Dhabi and all are notorious for their human rights abuse, stoning to death, lashings, overcrowding. Inmates often sleep in cells designed for 8 which hold up to 22 with 3 lice infested blankets on a cement floor. Many inmates are held for months at a time with no trial or contact with legal or family.
Your first stop as a prison in Abu Dhabi is the C.I.D. HQ in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately no prisoner can contact their loved once, once they are arrested and relatives trying to contact their loved ones in the C.I.D are given no information at all.
Many witnesses are also held in the C.I.D. HQ for a very long time. Long term prisoners are kept in the ground floor. Women and children which includes babies are in a separate block.1.
Our contact warns anyone searching for family members to take special care otherwise they may get arrested as well.

British Citizen was arrested for the importation of Heroin in Thailand

In 1995 a British Citizen was arrested for the importation of Heroin in Thailand and later sentenced to life imprisonment. On August 12th 2004 this British Citizen became the first ever prisoner on a life sentence to transfer on the Thailand – England Prisoner Transfer Treaty. The Lord Chief Justice of England set a provisional tariff and it was then later formally set by the High Court of England to 10 years. 10 years tariff being the same term of imprisonment required by Thailand’s Law for a life sentence prisoner to serve before being eligible for parole(release on licence). When I enquired to the Home Office in England, about my own eligibility date to be considered for parole, (once I have transferred back to England on the Treaty). I was told by Paul Goggins MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State) click here that I would only be, automatically released from custody in England once I have served two-thirds of the balance of my sentence remaining at the date of my transfer to England. The balance of my sentence is calculated by deducting the time I have served in prison in Thailand. 4 years being the minimum I have to serve in a Thai prison before being eligible for transfer on the treaty to England. 4 years time served in Thailand deducted from my original sentence of 33 years and 6 months leaves me with a balance of sentence of 29 years 6 months. Of which according to the terms of the treaty and Mr. Paul Goggins, I have to serve two-thirds of 29 years 6 months, which is 19 years 8 months plus the 4 years I will have already served in a prison in Thailand. That equals a total of 23 years 8 months imprisonment. I would only be eligible for consideration for release on parole Licence once I have served one half of my original sentence, that being16 years 9month.

Christopher Alan Caunter, 34, was arrested on Wednesday

Police in Thailand have arrested a British man wanted in connection with the killing of his girlfriend, whose body was found in Essex.
Christopher Alan Caunter, 34, was arrested on Wednesday in Petchaburi province, a Thai police spokesman said.

Mr Caunter is wanted for questioning about the death of Deborah Townsend, of East Ham, London, whose scalp and blood were found on the A146 road in Suffolk.

Suffolk Police said they were aware of the reported arrest in Thailand.

British Citizen was arrested in Thailand

British Citizen was arrested in Thailand on April 21st 2003 for 25 grams of category 1 drug found in the house I was living. You may consider this to be a small quantity of drugs for personal use but in Thailand even a small quantity of drugs for personal use may well be considered as distribution by Thailand’s Law and have severe consequences. Being arrested and sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment in Thailand is a terrifying experience, human rights violations in Thailand’s judicial system as well as cruel and inhuman degrading treatment, horrifying conditions in prisons. Thailand hands out some of the most severe penalties for drug offences in the world. i.e. death penalty, life sentence, 50 year sentence and in my case 33 years 6 month and a fine of £ 11.000. A comparable sentence for my crime in England would probably require me to serve a term of imprisonment of less than 1 year

Briton held over 452 fake passports

A Briton was arrested at Bangkok airport yesterday with 452 fake blank European passports in his luggage, as he prepared to board a plane to return to the UK.
Mahieddine Daikh, an Algerian who became a naturalised Briton two years ago, will probably escape punishment unless there is a formal complaint in the next few days from the government of one of the countries affected, Thai and British authorities told the Guardian yesterday.


Mr Daikh was caught at 1am while in transit from the southern Thai island of Koh Samui to Amsterdam, from where he was scheduled to fly to Glasgow.
Officials found about 200 forged passports from France, Belgium, Spain and Portugal in his hand luggage and 250 fakes from the same countries in his checked-in bags, according to an immigration chief, General Suwat Thamrongsisakul.

2007 there have been a number of bomb attacks in Algeria

So far in 2007 there have been a number of bomb attacks in Algeria. The most significant incidents have been:

On 21 September 2007, a bomb attack in Bouira injured at least nine people, including two French nationals and one Italian national.
On 8 September 2007, a car bomb targeted the naval barracks in Dellys, 70km east of Algiers, killing at least 28 people and injuring over 60.
On 6 September 2007, a bomb attack occurred amongst a crowd gathered outside a mosque in the wilaya of Batna, killing 20 people and injuring around 100.
On 11 July 2007, a bomb attack occurred near a military barracks in Lakhdaria in the wilaya of Bouira killing at least eight soldiers and injuring more than 20.
On 11 April 2007, three bomb attacks occurred in Algiers at two separate locations, killing 33 people and injuring over 100 others. One car bomb exploded near a building housing the offices of the Prime Minister and Interior Minister in the centre of Algiers. Two further bomb attacks took place in the district of Bab Ezzaour, close to a police station. The attacks were claimed by Al Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQ-M), a name adopted by Algerian terrorist group the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in January 2007.

Foreign workers and their means of transport have also been targets for attacks. On 3 March 2007, a bus carrying foreign workers in the Ain Defla district (south of Algiers) was targeted in a bomb attack, killing three Algerians and one Russian and injuring several others. On 10 December 2006, two minibuses carrying expatriate workers were targeted in a bomb and gun attack at Bouchaoui, in the western suburbs of Algiers. One Algerian national and one Lebanese national were killed. Six foreigners, including three British citizens, were injured.

The Sahara Desert and mountainous regions in the south of the country have not normally been subject to terrorist violence, but the abduction of a group of unaccompanied foreign tourists there in early 2003 underlined the potential risk to travellers in the region. We therefore advise caution when travelling to the south eastern wilayas of Tamanrasset and Illizi and recommend that you travel with a reputable tour company or an approved local guide.

You should also exercise caution when travelling in the area close to the border with Mauritania and Mali. Incidents have shown that there is an increased risk of terrorist attacks, banditry and kidnapping in these areas.

If you are planning to travel to Algeria, you should be very careful about your personal security arrangements throughout your visit. We recommend varying unavoidable travel, changing the timings and routes of regular journeys where possible. For more information see Security and General Tips and Risk of Terrorism when Travelling Overseas.

Crime

Most visits to Algeria are trouble-free. In certain areas of larger cities there are incidents of robbery (muggings), bag snatching, pick-pocketing and thefts of and from motor vehicles. There have been reports of car-jackings and robberies and thefts by criminals posing as police officers outside the main cities. You should avoid areas that you do not know, especially after dark. Do not carry large amounts of money or valuables around with you.

Police forces across England and Wales took part in the biggest ever international operation against Internet paedophiles on Wednesday morning.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Landmark, has successfully identified 12 suspected paedophiles in the UK. At 06:00 GMT, the National Crime Squad (NCS) coordinated dawn raids on the 12 British targets, and computers and software were seized as evidence.

Nineteen countries were involved in the operation, which resulted in the execution of 130 search warrants throughout the night. The dawn swoops are reported to have discovered 60,000 images of child pornography.

Inspector Terry Jones at Greater Manchester's Obscene Publications Unit was involved in the home raid of one target located in his force's region. "We have been looking at our target for a few months -- we executed a search warrant on his house at 6am, and have recovered a computer, floppies and CDs," he said. "We have definite evidence of child abuse images."

Several hundred thousand pounds worth of what are believed to be counterfeit and illegal drugs were seized, including lifestyle medicines and steroids

As a result of intensive investigations conducted by MHRA investigators, several addresses across the country (both residential and commercial) were today visited. Documentation, computers and banking records were also taken.

The searches were carried out in North London, West Yorkshire and Manchester. Five individuals were arrested: four in London and one in West Yorkshire.

Mick Deats, Head of Enforcement & Intelligence says "today's seizure is a result of a major investigation in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. Individuals or organisations who attempt to supply counterfeit medicines can expect to be thoroughly investigated. Where appropriate they can be prosecuted by the MHRA using a variety of legislation which could result in up to 10 years imprisonment and substantial fines."

The MHRA is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. No product is risk-free. Underpinning all our work lie robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks. We keep watch over medicines and devices, and take any necessary action to protect the public promptly if there is a problem.

If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968, they can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Where appropriate the MHRA will use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to determine whether or not benefits were accrued through criminal activity and will recoup illicit earnings if the individual is found guilty.

UK-based men have been identified as members of an international hacking group known as "THr34t-Krew".

a 19-year-old electrician and an unemployed 21-year-old -- are being interviewed today by the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU).
The move follows the execution of search warrants this morning in County Durham. Two addresses were searched and evidence retrieved relating to computer and drugs offences.
The operation was jointly conducted with officers from Durham Constabulary and the US multi-agency CATCH team (Computer and Technology Crime Hi-Tech Response Team), which is based in Southern California.
A simultaneous search warrant was executed at an address in Illinois in the US, where additional evidence in the case was seized.
The two UK-based men have been identified as members of an international hacking group known as "THr34t-Krew".
The NHTCU claims this group is behind a worm which has infected approximately 18,000 computers worldwide. The worm, known as the TK worm, has been found to be present in a number of computers in the UK. The cost of the disruption caused is estimated at £5.5m.
Detective Superintendent, Mick Deats, Deputy Head of the NHTCU, said in a statement: "Hacking and virus writing are serious crimes. They are costing UK firms millions of pounds in lost business and downtime. Our task is to track down those people who seek to hamper companies by reducing their ability to do business. "

Stigma

The following is a summary of what participants had to say. The comments reflect the observations and experiences of the people we spoke with. As such, the comments highlight many important issues but cannot be generalized to a larger population.
· People who have problems with substance use are judged and labeled in a negative way by society and often come to think of themselves in the same way.
· The substance users who are stigmatized most are :
o those who use illegal drugs (especially those who inject drugs, use crack or heroin or take methadone) or those who use any drug a lot
o women (especially if they are pregnant and/or ar
e mothers already)
o people of lower socioeconomic status
o younger people and older adults
o aboriginal people.
· The main ways in which stigma affects people with experience using drugs are:
o violations of human rights
o lack of employment
o development of negative feelings about themselves
o adoption of certain behaviours (e.g., avoiding needed services, becoming secretive, continued substance use).
· A few people with experience using drugs said they have never felt stigmatized while others said their experience of stigma was ongoing; many said they had experienced stigma within the past week.
· Those who have the most contact with substance users were mentioned as being the most stigmatizing and/or the most
supportive; specifically:
o The groups mentioned as stigmatizing substance users most are: people in the helping professions (e.g., physicians, psychiatrists, pharmacists and emergency room staff); family and friends; the legal system (e.g., the police, lawyers, probation and parole officers); government agencies (e.g., social services, Children's Aid, the current provincial government).
o Many participants said that counsellors, therapists and treatment agencies have given them a lot of support; some also cited family and friends, people in helping professions (e.g., family physician, psychiatrist, emergency department) and the legal system (e.g., police) as being supportive.
· The most effective ways to reduce stigma are through:
o educational initiatives — which highlight the reasons people develop problems with substance use; seek to promote understanding; address media biases and inaccuracies; and portray people with addictions as human beings
o personalizing the issue — by having people who have experienced substance use and stigma speak about it; using well-known people as spokespeople to raise awareness that addiction can affect anyone; showing the face of substance use on a variety of people in
society
o positive stories — which show people who have experienced problems with substance use contributing to society.
THE VOICE OF STIGMA
Here is a small sample of what people had to say in response to the question: "What is it that you would really like other people to know or think about someone who has (or has had) a problem with substance use?"
People with experience using drugs
"I have a sense of humour."
"I am much more than my addiction."
"I am on a voyage of discovery."
"I am dynamic and vibrant."
"I want people to say: ‘I'm glad I got to know him.’"
"I'm a human being. These are just some of my warts — but we all have them."
"The Greek concept of ‘agape’ means to ‘love in spite of.’ I want people to care about me and each other in that way. That makes recovering a lot easier."
"I would like people to understand the context of substance abuse."
"Don't push me to the back of the line. I'm just the same person as you are — only I had an addiction problem."
Family members
"They're not all bad. There is good in them. Look past that part to see what else is there."
"Look beyond the obvious and view the underlying problem."
"Families expend a lot of energy to keep the problem quiet."
"I like the expression: ‘It takes a whole village to raise a family.’ But that's not the way it is."
"Behaviours are a symptom of something. Instead of just looking at the person as a user or abuser, wonder why."
"They probably have a deeper problem than the one you're seeing. They need help and understanding rather than being shunned or having backs turned on them."
"Blame doesn't help. It doesn't help them to say: ‘you should do this.’ They're enmeshed and entangled in this whole set of behaviours."
Service providers
"How they survive on the streets makes me say, ‘wow.’ A lot of us couldn't even start surviving."
"The person just lacks resources. When opportunities are presented to people, they flourish."
"Just because somebody's an addict doesn't make them a bad person."
"They are doing the best that they can."

"It is incredibly difficult for clients to come in and look at themselves and to try and change, to be self-aware and to look at everything that they do. I think that makes them the strongest people that there are."
"No one chooses to develop an addiction or an alcohol or drug problem. What they are trying to do is address pain — but they don't seem to know any other way to deal with it. Alcohol and drug problems are about pain, not self-indulgence."
"Anybody can be affected. There are too many items, chemicals, activities in our world not to be exposed to something that can become very compulsive or addictive."

The Disease model of addiction

The Disease model of addiction is probably the most controversial and debated topic in the entire field of substance abuse/addiction. One would have to be well informed on the subject to even attempt to understand the controversy intelligently. This site will not claim to know for sure one way or the other (disease/not disease) but will present a little of both sides of the on going debate with in the professional circles.
First, we must accurately define Disease, since when the word disease is mentioned most think of something like cancer, aids, heart, etc., something which can be isolated in part and extracted from the body and visibly viewed and observed by the eye under a microscope or other apparatus. This is not the case with the "disease of alcoholism/addiction" or at least not at this time.
According to Webster's Dictionary disease is defined as follows:
"Disease: Any departure from health presenting marked symptoms; malady; illness; disorder." Then we must go on to define concept as well, which according to Webster's is: "Concept: A notion, thought, or idea."

This popular model of addiction is credited to E.M. Jellinek who presented a comprehensive disease model of alcoholism in 1960. The World Health Organization acknowledged alcoholism as a serious medical problem in 1951, and the American Medical Association declared alcoholism as a treatable illness in 1956. Following Jellinek's work, the American Psychiatric Association began to use the term disease to describe alcoholism in 1965, and the American Medical Association followed in 1966.
As with many concepts and theoretical models in the addiction field, the disease concept was originally applied to alcoholism and has been generalized to addiction to other drugs as well. The "disease of addiction" is viewed as a primary disease. That is, it exists in and of itself and is not secondary to some other condition. This is in contrast to the psychological model of Dual Diagnosis , which addictive behavior is seen as secondary to some psychological condition.

Arguments Against the Validity of the Disease Concept
As earlier stated, the disease concept is controversial and not without critics. Two well-known critics are Stanton Peele and Herbert Fingarette, both of whom have written books, as well as articles disputing the disease concept of addiction.

Since the disease concept is attributed to Jellinek, a lot of criticism has been directed at his research, which was the basis for his conclusions about the disease concept. Jellinek's data were gathered from questionnaires that were distributed to AA members through its newsletter, "The Grapevine". Of 158 questionnaires returned, 60 were discarded because members had pooled and averaged their responses, and no questionnaires from women were used.
Jellinek himself acknowledged that his data was limited. Therefore, one might wonder why Jellinek's concept of the disease of alcoholism received such widespread acceptance. One reason is that the disease concept is consistent with the philosophy of AA, which is by far the largest organized group dedicated to help for alcoholics. Secondly, as Peele noted:
"The disease model has been so profitable and politically successful that it has spread to include problems of eating, child abuse, gambling, shopping, premenstrual tension, compulsive love affairs, and almost every other form of self-destructive behavior... From this perspective, nearly every American can be said to have a disease of addiction."
Herbert Fingarette goes on to state that the alcohol industry itself contributes to forming a public perception of alcoholism as a disease, as a marketing ploy:
"By acknowledging that a small minority of the drinking population is susceptible to the disease of alcoholism, the industry can implicitly assure consumers that the vast majority of people who drink are not at risk.
This compromise is far preferable to both the old temperance commitment to prohibition, which criminalized the entire liquor industry, and to newer approaches that look beyond the small group diagnosable as alcoholics to focus on the much larger group of heavy drinkers who develop serious physical, emotional, and social problems."
There are many other criticisms of the disease concept, however we will not go in to them at this time. Instead we will review some of the evidence to support the disease concept.
Arguments Endorsing the Disease Concept
Since the introduction of the disease concept research studies have examined a possible genetic link in alcoholism/addiction. One such study demonstrates that the offspring of alcoholics are approximately three to five times more likely to develop alcoholism than offspring of non-alcoholics .
However, the genetic influence on other drug addiction has received less research attention. Also, in 1983, there was a popular theory of alcohol addiction expressed by D.L. Ohlms in his book "The Disease Concept of Alcoholism" that proposed that alcoholics produced a highly addictive substance called THIQ during the metabolism of alcohol.

THIQ
is normally produced when the body metabolizes heroin and is supposedly not metabolized by non-alcoholics when they drink. According to Ohlms, animal studies have shown that a small amount of THIQ injected into the brains of rats will produce alcoholic rats and that THIQ remains in the brain long after an animal has been injected. Therefore, the theory is that alcoholics are genetically predisposed to produce THIQ in response to alcohol, that the THIQ creates a craving for alcohol, and that the THIQ remains in the brain of the alcoholic long after the use of alcohol is discontinued.
This would provide a physiological explanation for the fact that recovering alcoholics who relapse quickly return to their previous use patterns. More recent research on genetic causes of alcoholism has focused on some abnormality in a dopamine receptor gene and deficiencies in the neurotransmitter serotonin or in serotonin receptors.

As you can see from the above information there is still room for debate and the controversy continues.

integration of methadone maintenance treatment

The article by Latowsky & Kallen (1997) examines the impact of social stigma on the integration of methadone maintenance treatment into primary practice. Despite mounting evidence put forth in dozens of studies published in the medical literature that identifies opioid addiction as a chronic medical condition requiring treatment intervention, social perceptions related to the condition and its primary treatment, methadone maintenance, remain controversial to this day. Social stigmatization of the disorder and those that suffer from its devastating effects are rooted in the misguided religious perceptions and medical beliefs of the late 19th and early 20th century that caused the condition to lose social credibility as a treatable medical disease. Those with opiate addictions were viewed for the most part as weak-willed individuals whose addictive behavior posed a threat to the social and economic fabric of organized society. Public perception of opioid addiction as a social evil rather than a treatable medical condition caused lawmakers to enact legislation aimed at placing strict controls on this behavior. The passage of anti-narcotics legislation in the early part of the 20th century placed a secondary stigmatizing label upon the heads of those suffering from opioid addiction. They were perceived not only as deviant, but as criminals whose behavior deserved punishment.

The development of more humane human rights laws along with the introduction of the medical model of opioid addiction as a treatable condition in the latter part of the 20th century began to change the publicàs views. A major milestone event that was at forefront of this change in public perception concerning opioid addiction was the introduction of methadone maintenance treatment. Pioneering research in the field of opioid addiction began to recognize that the incorporation of methadone into the treatment of addiction could do much to bring about normalization and optimization of function to those who suffer from this condition. Methadone was also seen as a drug that was associated with substantial reduction in drug-related criminal behavior among those addicted to opioids.

Despite evidence that methadone is effective and safe in the treatment of opioid addiction, social stigma and misconceptions about the medication and its effects on the human body have relegated it to low status within the field of medicine. Opioid addicted patients in maintenance programs are viewed - even by health care professionals - as methadone zombies who merely substitute one addictive drug for another. This stigmatization of methadone maintenance makes patients whose functional stability has been restored reluctant to disclose their status to family, friends and employers. Many of these patients lead a double life that is often pervaded by feelings of fear and anxiety that their secret will be exposed.

Addicted to sex on the internet

More and more people are becoming addicted to sex on the internet, say psychologists.
At a conference on sexual addiction in California, experts said online sex addiction was creating a dangerous new compulsion affecting everyone from housewives to gay men and corporate executives.

They added that online sex addicts are divided equally between men and women, contrary to popular belief that an overwhelming majority of cybersex participants are male.

Experts said women were attracted by the internet's anonymous and instant gratification. But they preferred the interaction in sex chat rooms to looking at pornographic pictures.

An estimated 15% of internet users have visited sex chat rooms or pornographic sites, according to the latest research see posts below

The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix

The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix and EarthLink

Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States

Every second - $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
Every second - 28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography
Every second - 372 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines
Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States

Daily pornographic search engine requests 68 million (25% of total search engine requests)

Pornographic websites 4.2 million (12% of total websites)
Pornographic pages 420 million
Daily pornographic search engine requests 68 million (25% of total search engine requests)
Daily pornographic emails 2.5 billion (8% of total emails)
Internet users who view porn 42.7%
Received unwanted exposure to sexual material 34%
Average daily pornographic emails/user 4.5 per Internet user
Monthly Pornographic downloads (Peer-to-peer) 1.5 billion (35% of all downloads)
Daily Gnutella "child pornography" requests 116,000
Websites offering illegal child pornography 100,000
Sexual solicitations of youth made in chat rooms 89%
Youths who received sexual solicitation 1 in 7 (down from 2003 stat of 1 in 3)
Worldwide visitors to pornographic web sites 72 million visitors to pornography: Monthly
Internet Pornography Sales $4.9 billion

Largest consumer of Internet pornography 35 - 49 age group

Average age of first Internet exposure to pornography 11 years old
Largest consumer of Internet pornography 35 - 49 age group
15-17 year olds having multiple hard-core exposures 80%
8-16 year olds having viewed porn online 90% (most while doing homework)
7-17 year olds who would freely give out home address 29%
7-17 year olds who would freely give out email address 14%
Children's character names linked to thousands of porn links 26 (Including Pokemon and Action Man)

Women accessing adult websites each month 9.4 million

Women keeping their cyber activities secret 70%
Women struggling with pornography addiction 17%
Ratio of women to men favoring chat rooms 2X
Percentage of visitors to adult websites who are women 1 in 3 visitors
Women accessing adult websites each month 9.4 million
Women admitting to accessing pornography at work 13%

US adults who regularly visit Internet pornography websites 40 million

Men admitting to accessing pornography at work 20%
US adults who regularly visit Internet pornography websites 40 million
Promise Keeper men who viewed pornography in last week 53%
Christians who said pornography is a major problem in the home 47%
Adults admitting to Internet sexual addiction 10%
Breakdown of male/female visitors to pornography sites 72% male - 28% female

Top Pornography Banning Countries

Romania Floyd-Agency Saudia Arabia, Iran, Syria, Bahrain, Egypt, UAE, Kuwait, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Kenya, India, Cuba, China

Pornagraphic Web Page Statistics

United States 244,661,900
Germany 10,030,200
United Kingdom 8,506,800
Australia 5,655,800
Japan 2,700,800
The Netherlands 1,883,800
Russia 1,080,600
Poland 1,049,600
Spain 852,800

9 out of 10 children aged between the ages of 8 and 16 have viewed pornography on the Internet

9 out of 10 children aged between the ages of 8 and 16 have viewed pornography on the Internet, in most cases unintentionally (London School of Economics January 2002).

Average age of first Internet exposure to pornography: 11 years old (internet-filter-review.com).

Largest consumer of Internet pornography: 12 - 17 year-old age group (internet-filter-review.com).

Adult industry says traffic is 20-30% children (NRC Report 2002, 3.3).

Youth with significant exposure to sexuality in the media were shown to be 2.2 times more likely to have had intercourse at ages 14 to 16 (Report in Pediatrics, April, 2006).

"Never before in the history of telecommunications media in the United States has so much indecent (and obscene) material been so easily accessible by so many minors in so many American homes with so few restrictions."
- U.S. Department of Justice, Post Hearing Memorandum of Points and Authorities, at l, ACLU v. Reno, 929 F. Supp. 824 (1996).

100,000 websites offer illegal child pornography

As of 2003, there were 1.3 million pornographic websites; 260 million pages (N2H2, 2003).

The total porn industry revenue for 2006: $13.3 billion in the United States; $97 billion worldwide (Internet Filter Review).

U.S. adult DVD/video rentals in 2005: almost 1 billion (Adult Video News).
Hotel viewership for adult films: 55% (cbsnews.com).

Unique worldwide users visiting adult web sites monthly: 72 million (Internet Filter Review).

Number of hardcore pornography titles released in 2005 (U.S.): 13,588 (Internet Filter Review).

Adults admitting to Internet sexual addiction: 10%; 28% of those are women (internet-filter-review.com).

More than 70% of men from 18 to 34 visit a pornographic site in a typical month (comScore Media Metrix).

More than 20,000 images of child pornography posted online every week (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 10/8/03).

Approximately 20% of all Internet pornography involves children (National Center for Mission & Exploited Children).

100,000 websites offer illegal child pornography (U.S. Customs Service estimate).

As of December 2005, child pornography was a $3 billion annual industry (internet-filter-review.com).

"At a 2003 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, two thirds of the 350 divorce lawyers who attended said the Internet played a significant role in the divorces in the past year, with excessive interest in online porn contributing to more than half such cases. Pornography had an almost non-existent role in divorce just seven or eight years ago." (Divorcewizards.com)

Internet addiction is not widely recognized by the medical community.

The amount of time kids spend online is a source of frustration for many parents. Initially, parents welcomed the Internet into their homes, believing they were opening up an exciting new world of educational opportunities for their children. However, many parents soon realized that, instead of using the Internet for homework or research, their kids were spending hours instant messaging with friends, playing online games or talking to strangers in chat rooms.



Maintaining a healthy balance between entertainment media and other activities in their children's lives has always been a challenge for parents. The Internet has made this challenge even more difficult. The engaging nature of Internet communications and interactive games means many children and teens have trouble keeping track of time when they're online.



Unfortunately, parents and teachers are usually not aware that there is a problem until it becomes serious. This is because it is easy to hide what you are doing online and because Internet addiction is not widely recognized by the medical community. (Mental health practitioners continue to debate whether this behaviour is an "addiction," with some preferring to identify it as "compulsive behaviour.")



Children and young people can easily become 'hooked' on online activities such as multi-user games, instant messaging, pornography and chat rooms. The most vulnerable children, according to the Computer-Addiction Services at Harvard Medical School, are those who are "lonely and bored or from families where nobody is at home to relate to after school."

Symptoms of Internet Addiction

1. Using online services everyday without any skipping.

2. Losing track of time after making a connection.

3. Going out less and less.

4. Spending less and less time on meals at home or at work, and eating in front of the monitor.

5. Denying spending too much time on the Net.

6. Others complaining of your spending too much time in front of the monitor.

7. Checking on your mailbox too many times a day.

8. Thinking you have the greatest website in the world and dying to give people your URL.

9. Logging onto the Net while already busy at work.

10. Sneaking online when spouse or family members are not at home, with a sense of relief.

Content provided with permission from the Cenla Chemical Dependency Council

What is Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)?

What "Internet addiction disorder" (IAD) is still difficult to define at this time. Much of the original research was based upon the weakest type of research methodology, namely exploratory surveys with no clear hypothesis or rationale backing them. Coming from an atheoretical approach has some benefits, but also is not typically recognized as being a strong way to approach a new disorder. More recent research has expanded upon the original surveys and anecdotal case study reports. However, as I will illustrate below later, even these studies don't support the conclusions the authors claim.
The original research into this disorder began with exploratory surveys, which cannot establish causal relationships between specific behaviors and their cause. While surveys can help establish descriptions of how people feel about themselves and their behaviors, they cannot draw conclusions about whether a specific technology, such as the Internet, has actually caused those behaviors. Those conclusions that are drawn are purely speculative and subjective made by the researchers themselves. Researchers have a name for this logical fallacy, ignoring a common cause. It's one of the oldest fallacies in science, and one still regularly perpetrated in psychological research today.

IAD

So far addictions have mainly focused on highs that are produced from the use of drugs or other external forces that affect the brain’s chemical responses. However it has recently been brought to the public’s attention that an individual can receive a similar kind of “high” from using the Internet. This malady has been termed Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). The research for this disorder is fairly new and scarce, but the results leave something to mull over. It affects everyone involved with the “user,” and moreover there are a few psychologists who know how to treat it.

Internet addiction disorder

Internet addiction disorder refers to the problematic use of the Internet, including the various aspects of its technology, such as electronic mail (e-mail) and the World Wide Web. The reader should note that Internet addiction disorder is not listed in the mental health professional's handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision (2000), which is also called the DSM. Internet addiction has, however, been formally recognized as a disorder by the American Psychological Association.

Normal people do not stay up for 228 hours at a time

Normal people do not constantly look out the window to see if the cops are there every two minutes. Normal people, do not see people sitting in their cars, when really no one is there. Normal people do not stay up for 228 hours at a time,
Brittany, now healthy and speaking out about her story.
and wish they had money to pay their bills, wish they could get back custody of their son, and wish they could eat and sleep,. But no they are hooked on this evil thing called crystal methamphetamine. Normal people take care of their children, and do not take them to meth labs.

I began smoking pot in the 10th grade which led to many other things. I first used meth with I was 17 years old. If I wasn't pregnant or in rehab I was using this drug. I wish I never had.

My early days in using meth were not as heavy as what they were right before I quit. I still lived at home with my mom and dad, and I had to be careful. I would go out and smoke some meth and then come home and couldn't fall asleep all night, and then sleep the next day to make up for it. Then I would do it a couple days later. I also had a job when I was nineteen and I didn't get off until 12:00AM and I would do it right before I went home. I was always partying Normal people take care of their children, and do not take them to meth labs.
and stuff -- I liked the feeling it gave me, and the sense of power; I thought I was somebody. I'm a very outgoing person who is always on the go, and meth made me GO. In a sense I think some of it was done out of rebellion to my parents. I got kicked out of my house -- or really I got asked to leave if I couldn't abide by their rules, so I did. And I got really wild, and ended up living with whoever would let me live with them. During this time I got pregnant.

increasingly understood to be a medical disorder

Advances in science are revolutionizing understanding of drug abuse and addiction. Addiction is increasingly understood to be a medical disorder with a critical central role for psychiatrists in its treatment. Consequently, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has teamed up with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, for its first-ever special track on drug addiction and the brain during the APA annual meeting

Chief Executive of Action on Addiction

Lesley King-Lewis, Chief Executive of Action on Addiction, says:

"These findings are very worrying. As a nation, we need to be far more aware of the harmful effects that excess drinking can have on our health.

"Our concern is that many people don't realise that drinking too much alcohol simply exacerbates problems like stress and disturbed sleeping patterns - issues that survey participants said they were very worried about.

"These results further prove that Britain has a culture of binge drinking. Alcohol consumption in the UK is increasing, and we are sitting on a time-bomb that could threaten the health of the nation for generations to come if we do not act quickly."

There are up to 100 health conditions associated with drinking too much alcohol, and in particular 65% of suicide attempts are associated with alcohol. The Action on Addiction Alcohol Campaigning Group is calling for the Government to pursue effective policies that will have a real impact on the nation's mental and physical health.

We want the Government to consider implementing the three key points put forward by the Action on Addiction Alcohol Campaigning Group, which consists of over 30 leading alcohol experts from across the country.

To provide an alcohol worker in every hospital.
To tax drinks according to the amount of alcohol.
To put health warnings on alcohol bottles and at point of sale.

Statement from Action on Addiction

Victoria Manning Action on Addiction Research Fellow, says:

"These findings are extremely worrying. The UK is singled out as one of the worst offenders for cocaine use, with over 6% of the population having tried the drug at least once.

"We are very concerned about the continuing high levels of cocaine use, particularly among young adults.

"Taking cocaine can cause people to become anxious and agitated, and in high doses it can cause paranoia and panic attacks. As a stimulant drug it boosts energy levels, keeps people awake longer and often interferes with sleep patterns. It is also an appetite suppressant and if taken regularly can lead to a poor diet.

"Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that people under the age of 30 are likely to drink more alcohol when using cocaine as alcohol softens the crash from the cocaine high, whilst cocaine offsets the sedating effect of alcohol. For this reason cocaine use sometimes accompanies binge drinking episodes in young adults, which can lead to the myriad of other problems that we have heard so much about recently."

University of Birmingham

The aim of the Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling and Addiction Research Group is to carry out, and disseminate the results of, research into the consumption of alcohol and other drugs, and involvement in other potentially addictive behaviours such as gambling. Research undertaken by the Group may focus on consumption or activity which is unexceptional, or on behaviour which is excessive. To be undertaken by the Group, research must have clear relevance for either the prevention or treatment of alcohol or drug-related harm, or other similar forms of difficulty. The group pursues this aim by carrying out research situated both in the clinic and in the community, drawing upon both clinical psychology and applied social/community psychology traditions. The Group has particular experience of research into the family aspects of alcohol and drug use and intends to preserve this as one emphasis.

Methods

Work carried out by the Group has a number of distinctive features, as follows:

1. Wherever possible the Group’s work combines quantitative and qualitative research approaches. An aim of the Group is to keep abreast of latest developments in both types of methodology.

2. The Group has a tradition of carrying out research collaboratively with colleagues outside the School of Psychology – locally, nationally and internationally – and aims to continue such a tradition.

3. The Group will continue to seek, and hopefully obtain, research contracts with Research Councils, Government Departments, charitable organisations, and others.

The American Medical Association called for more research into the public health risks of video and Internet games

Wednesday but stopped short of declaring them addictive.

The AMA, which recommended a review of the current video game rating system, also said it would leave it up to the American Psychiatric Association and other experts to decide whether video game addiction should be designated a mental illness.

"While more study is needed on the addictive potential of video games, the AMA remains concerned about the behavioral, health, and societal effects of video game and Internet overuse," said AMA president Dr. Ronald Davis.

The AMA also wants more study on the effectiveness of the video game ratings system, which has not been updated since 1994. Davis said research has linked exposure to media violence with increased aggressive behavior.

The AMA's debate over video game addiction at the group's annual meeting touched a nerve among doctors, who are not sure what to tell patients and worried parents.

"To the extent that a game is controlling someone's behaviors and taking over their daily life, then you are talking about a compulsive use, whether you categorize it in a psychiatric manual or not," Davis told reporters at a news briefing.

Dr. Timothy Fong, a psychiatrist at the University of California at Los Angeles who specializes in addiction, said video games could be a problem for some. "Anything in the world can be addictive if you have that biological vulnerability to develop an addiction," he said in a telephone interview. "This is a brain disease for a very small percentage of kids, but not all kids can become addicted to video games."

Fong said there needs to be more empirical research into the effects of video games, especially on children. "Otherwise, we are just spouting out myths and stereotypes," he said.

Communication of accurate, objective, and timely scientific information to treatment professionals is important

- especially in the "drug abuse" and addiction field where misinformation and a lack of exposure to new information are common. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and belief changes that accompanied educational workshops (3 or 6 hr-long) on addiction science targeted to treatment professionals (N = 1403) given in the United States and Puerto Rico between July 2000 and August 2001. Each workshop covered three main concepts: (1) terms and definitions; (2) basic neurochemistry of addiction; and (3) how new neurobiological knowledge will affect the treatment of addictions in the future. Analysis of variance was used to compare mean pretest to posttest change scores among levels of four independent variables: gender, age, occupation/position, and race/ethnicity. Workshop participants achieved a significant improvement in knowledge about addiction with younger groups achieving greater gains. Participants' beliefs shifted in the desired direction. Significant differences in belief shifts occurred among occupational and gender groups, but not among race/ethnicity or age groups. There was also a consistent change in the policy belief subscale that related to how strongly the audience members believed research on addiction was important. We conclude that addiction science education provided to treatment professionals can increase their knowledge and change their beliefs about the causes of addictions. In addition, the workshop participants form a base of constituents who are likely to support greater addiction research funding

Obsessive role play gaming

Since online gaming has become so interactive, some people do not realize the negative effects of extended game use. Obsessive role play gaming effects a large number of teenage and young adult males. Extended game play is defined as playing for more than four hours at a time.Warning signs include: ¡Becoming agitated when unable to play ¡Preoccupation with online games ¡Risking personal relationships to play online games ¡Playing online games to stop depressing thoughts

Top Stories

Addiction Research has opened a centre for social comment

Addiction Research has opened a centre for social comment and research into the everyday contacts people have with addictions in society. Whilst global warming is the buzz word in society today, we may be having an equal threat by social warming with societys inability to deal with pressure sometimes described as stress in society. This inability to function in a pressurized overcrowded state may be manifesting itself by addictions or coping strategies to relieve this never ending pressure. The media constantly fans the flames with comments on terror, bombings, murder and mayhem. Coupled to the added shock and responsibility of the carbon emmissions and the imminent threat of annihilaton of the human species we live in a traumatised society .Please feel free to comment on your personal experiences anonymously on this site. Back tracking is switched off.

Alan Davies from Middlesbrough was a heroin addict until his son started using and overdosed in front of him - find out how his life has now changed.

Alan Davies from Teesside a year ago he'd been clean from drugs for over a year, and his motto was 'one day at a time' - find out how he's doing now.

When we first met Alan Davies from Teesside a year ago he'd been clean from drugs for over a year, and his motto was 'one day at a time' - find out how he's doing now.

It hadn't just been the heroin, the amphetamines, the wobbly eggs, it had been anything he could lay his hands on, and anything he could lay his hands on extended to the means of paying for his habit.

He was a serial petty crook, even his closest acquaintances did not trust him.


Alan's received many letters of support
His partner in crime was his own son Stephen, encouraged as a teenager by Alan to join him in his lost world of drugs and crime.

Then one day Alan woke up in the street surrounded by strangers faces.

He thought he had died He wished he had. Instead, it changed his life.

A year on, those dark days are fading, but the depths Alan plumbed during his addiction, and the long battle to get clean are not things he wants to forget.

Instead he wants to share his experiences and use his example to help others to follow his path.

Now his proudest possession is his badge which marks him as an addiction mentor for a Teesside Health Trust.

He helps to plan treatment courses, and meets addicts in groups to talk to them about his story.

"Working with people with addictions is the greatest thing I have done in my life. "
Alan DaviesHe said: " When I appeared on Look North last year a lot of things happened to me. People wrote to me, not just addicts, but ordinary people who wanted to wish me well.

"Some of the letters from addicts were very moving, people going through the same things as I had and asking me to tell them they could get clean.

"That was a big responsibility for me. Every week people write to my website saying I have been an inspiration and have given them the courage to take on their addiction.

"Working with people with addictions is the greatest thing I have done in my life.

"When I was stealing to take drugs I put all of my effort into making sure I was successful at it.


Alan takes one day at a time
"Now I have something positive to put that energy into, and I'm just as determined to succeed this time round."

Not all of his efforts have been successful.

His attempt to persuade his son Stephen to kick the habit failed and months after leaving prison he was back inside, serving six years for drug-related violence, but Alan realises he still has work to do.

He said: "I will never say I have kicked drugs…I just take it one day at a time, even now, but now I have people who look up to me, and I know if I go back to my old ways, I am not just being a fool to myself, I am making myself a hypocrite to all these other people too."

Your comments:
Paul Brookes (National Treatment Agency for Substa
Alan kindly gave up his time to help me with the agency's 2004/05 annual report, where we featured him as a case study. Alan — from meeting you in person and hearing you on the radio, your life story and the work you now do are an encouragement and an example to everyone. Keep up the good work.

Karl Sheldon - Crack/cocaine Service - Addaction
When I met Alan, the first things that hit me were his positive outlook and his determination to go forward. I thought "this guy will do for me, he's got the attitude and experiences to make changes" I have really enjoyed working with you bud.Your imput on the Crack training we provide has been exceptional and thought provoking. You have shown, there is a way out of the all consuming darkness to a life in the light and your journey, without doubt, has given strength to others.You are an example of the incredible diversity of skills,knowledge that the people of the N/East possess. Top man.

Wayne Dobson
Alan what can i say old friend. So good to see you come out of the darkness and make a diffrence to people like us. I pinch myself everyday to make sure this aint a dream as ia m sure you do. Alan you are a real inspiration and we do have a voice people WANT to hear.

Eileen at St Mary's Centre
Alan, you are brilliant, you are a true inspiration for drug users - I hope you continue to succeed in everything you set out to do, especially the driving test!!! Keep up the good work. Luv from Eileen

lisa armes ov t boro
jst want to tell you how proud of you i am and how much youve helped me alan as a friend and ex user. i love chatting to you and you have always given me good advice and looked out for me. i wish you every success and happiness because you deserve it and have worked so hard to get were you are and "normal" people sometimes understand that. and if that makes us not normal or slightly different im proud of all our achievements because what others take for granted we know the true beauty of life itself! keep it up al and keep me laughing and get me on a computer i didnt even know how to switch the thing on 6 mnths ago lol now thats progress mate. love you always and thanx for ure example lisa xxx

Daren Garratt
My name is Daren Garratt and I am the Development Manager for a national charity called the Alliance (formerly Methadone Alliance); a peer-led organisation that provides advocacy and support for drug users. I had the pleasure and honour of meeting Alan at the national Criminal Justice Worker's forum in York last week, and was enthralled by his enthusiasm, commitment and desire to learn and support other people. In fact, I was that impressed that I'm hoping to do a lot more work with him as soon as possible. We've already discussed getting him some advocacy training, and I've offered to attend his group in Middlesbrough and do some work around harm reduction and effective user involvement. We're also looking to hook up and support another peer-led scheme in Liverpoool, and I've encouraged him to try and get funding to attend the National Injecting Conference in London next month. When you have the privelige of meeting front-line activists like Alan who work tirelessly without fanfare, then you have to hold onto them and give them all the encouragement and support you can. Middlesbrough DAT and the NTE North East Region are lucky to have such a dedicated asset as Alan, because as the Alliance looks to progress its Department of Health funded national Model of Advocacy, it's unsung heroes like Alan that are going to turn our goals into a reality.

Matthew Davies (BBC Radio Cleveland)
I interviewed Alan for my Radio Show and was captivated by his story but it was his recovery that really impressed me. Alan's new life shows the truth in this pearl of wisdom. Face the sun, the shadows will fall behind you.

nicnac
keep up the good work son! best of luck for the future and keep the fight up! well done for the work you have done, it shows alot to alot of people. anyone can do anything, no matter what situation your in. good on ya!! x

Tony Goldfinkle
keep up your good work mate you can do it, i have been reading and following you all the way from first reading about you in the gazette stay solid best of luck Tony Goldfinkle

Andy
Alan's story had a significance for me because I know someone on crack who let me down recently. She was from Middlesbrough. I understand her better now and I am not so judgemental. She thinks only of herself but perhaps she can one day be like Alan is now.

mark tunney
alan you are a wonderfull person who i am honoured to have as a friend. thank you for giving me hope and support my helping me stay clean and serine one day at a time.i hope you will stay part of my life for a long time to come. your pal mark

kim walker
hi alan wee mans sister here just read all about you and a big pat on the back to you all good things will come 2 you as long as you stay clean this is when live begins god bless kim x

Katie(Girlfriend)Glasgow
I Just want to say how proud I am of you Alan for being here today, I am so proud that you are able to tell your story and encourage others to fight this battle as well. You are an insperation to all who read your story, you touch so many peoples hearts, I want to say that what Alan says is only part of the horendus past that Alan lived, but he is determind and strong enough to see it through. I am so proud of you taking your driving Alan and Studying for you N.V.Q. when you have this qualification you will be able to do a job that you love Helping others. If you look up Hope in the dictionary you will see Alan Davies next to it, as this is what you are Hope to all the other addicts out there. Alan has came a long way in the past 3 years and has had his ups and down like everybody else, but mostley they have been ups. He has a talant that he shares with others and that is understandment. he never takes credit for the love and warmth that he shows to so many people, so I am here to say, Well done sweetheart we are all so proud of you, keep up the good work and keep smiling and touching hearts... love you loads. your Katie xxxx

stevie walker
well done mate!!!you inspire me every day to stay clean!! this is something all the agences in the world could never achieve with me!! all the methadone programs up and down the countrycould never do what you have done to help me stay clean!!! thanks mate!! big love in recovery stevie

Steve
As a chronic alcoholic who has been sober for a year, I just want to support everything Alan is doing - I know how difficult it is when you have been dependent on a substance for so long. Good on you mate!