Austrian online bomb threat

Authorities in Quebec, Canada have arrested an alleged terrorist linked to an Austrian online bomb threat, the Blotter on ABCNews.com has learned.

Authorities say the Canadian arrest was carried out in conjunction with the arrests of three other suspects in Austria yesterday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) made the arrest Wednesday at the suspect's home in Trois Rivieres, Quebec, in a joint operation with Austrian authorities, law enforcement officials said Thursday.

Police believe the two UK based men are members of an international hacking group calling themselves the "THr34t-Krew".

Two UK men were arrested this morning following police raids in the UK and US aimed at dismantling an international hacker group believed to have created a virulent computer worm.

Officers from the Durham Constabulary arrested a 19 year-old electrician and a 21 year-old unemployed man after seizing evidence related to computer and drugs offences during a raid on two addresses in County Durham this morning.

The pair are being interviewed today by officers of the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU).

Police believe the two UK based men are members of an international hacking group calling themselves the "THr34t-Krew".

The group has created an Internet worm, called the TK worm, which infected approximately 18,000 computers around the world, according to a statement by the NHTCU.

Actor Martin Sheen: "I've Been Arrested 65 Times"

The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that Martin Sheen claims that he has been arrested 65 times in the past 20 years. The most recent arrest was a police citation this year for trespassing on a Nevada nuclear test site. Sheen reportedly told the British magazine Empire that he fondly remembers his first arrest, also in protest of nuclear initiatives. However, Sheen was also quick to add that he has never been sentenced to more than "a little bit" of jail time. Sheen played the role of U.S. President on the television show "The West Wing."

Classic Car Broker Peter Brotman Sentenced to Prison after Bamboozling Nicolas Cage Out of $300k

Classic Car Broker Peter Brotman Sentenced to Prison after Bamboozling Nicolas Cage Out of $300k
Peter Brotman, a classic-car broker who reportedly conned actor Nicolas Cage and other clients out of large sums of money was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution. Brotman reportedly sold classic cars on consignment for the rich and famous, then kept the money. His attorney blamed "cash flow problems" as the reason that Brotman, 47, did not send proceeds from the sale of a Rolls Royce, an Aston Martin, three Ferraris, a Cobra and a Jaguar to the clients who owned the cars. Actor Nicholas Cage reportedly lost $300,000 when Brotman failed to pay him the full amount of car sales in 2004.

Actor Tom Sizemore from "Saving Private Ryan" Arrested for Drugs

Actor Tom Sizemore was arrested for possession of methamphetamine outside a hotel in Bakersfield, California, after an associate, Jason Salcido, started an argument while attempting to check into the hotel. Police then searched Sizemore's car and found two bags of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Sizemore was arrested and kept at Kern County Jail. He was convicted of methamphetamine possession in 2004 and was still on probation from those charges. Police said Sizemore appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the arrest. If convicted, Sizemore could face a significant jail term.

judge praised actor Mel Gibson

A California judge praised actor Mel Gibson for successfully undergoing a rehab program after he made world headlines for drunken, racist, sexist rants against police in Malibu, California when he was arrested for a DUI. At a hearing in Malibu to assess his progress, Judge Lawrence Mira said he was "impressed" with Gibson's commitment to recovery, though Gibson himself was not present at the hearing. Although Gibson apologized several times for his outbursts

Handcuffing Herself to Hugh Grant

Woman Prankster Arrested for Handcuffing Herself to Hugh Grant
The star of a Dutch television show was arrested for handcuffing herself to actor Hugh Grant while he walked down the red carpet at the Amsterdam premiere of his latest movie, "Music and Lyrics." Cielke Sijben reportedly ran up to Grant and slipped a handcuff on his left wrist. Grant had to reportedly wait ten minutes for firefighters to free him from the woman. According to a report in the New York Daily News, after the woman told Grant she didn't have a key, he reportedly told her, "I am trying to be with my fans and you are pissing me off."

background checks on more than 1000 foreigners

THAI authorities are conducting background checks on more than 1000 foreigners working in Thailand after a spate of arrests for alleged child sex abuse, a senior officer said today.

Colonel Apichat Suriboonya, of Thailand's Interpol office, said police had contacted the home countries of many of the targeted foreigners, most of whom are teachers.

"We are now scrutinising more than 1000 foreign teachers working in Thailand," he told AFP.

"Before, educational institutions would only look at their academic qualifications, but that is not enough."

Colonel Apichat did not say how police had chosen the foreigners in question.

PassionDates.com uses the free Skype telephony client to connect members seeking "discreet intimate encounters,"

PassionDates.com uses the free Skype telephony client to connect members seeking "discreet intimate encounters," while Match.com's Online SpeedMatching service gives you "four minutes of live phone conversation while you read about and view photographs of your date."

While I wouldn't advise launching into erotica in the first four minutes of a speed date, if you're on camera in the iFriends adult community, your vocal prowess may be the lure that captures another member's attention.

Whatever the situation, Midori reminds students not to race to the finish line. "Slow it down, make it sweet and sexy, and make sure those pauses count," she says. "A pause lets people stop and think and digest. Combine that with sensory-rich description, and let the other person fill in that moment of silence with the picture."

She coaches students to inspire interest, build intrigue and set a foundation for future amorous possibilities, and she believes we should all be using our mobile phones to spice up our sex lives.

"We may be dependent on our cell phones these days, but what do we talk about?" she asks. "We say, 'Hey, where are you, how's the party?'" Given our busy schedules and feelings of disconnectedness, she sees an opportunity to bring lovers closer together, talking in real time or leaving erotic messages throughout the day.

Internet pornography is the new crack cocaine

Internet pornography is the new crack cocaine, leading to addiction, misogyny, pedophilia, boob jobs and erectile dysfunction, according to clinicians and researchers testifying before a Senate committee Thursday.

Witnesses before the Senate Commerce Committee's Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee spared no superlative in their description of the negative effects of pornography.

Mary Anne Layden, co-director of the Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Cognitive Therapy, called porn the "most concerning thing to psychological health that I know of existing today."

"The internet is a perfect drug delivery system because you are anonymous, aroused and have role models for these behaviors," Layden said. "To have drug pumped into your house 24/7, free, and children know how to use it better than grown-ups know how to use it -- it's a perfect delivery system if we want to have a whole generation of young addicts who will never have the drug out of their mind."

Pornography addicts have a more difficult time recovering from their addiction than cocaine addicts, since coke users can get the drug out of their system, but pornographic images stay in the brain forever, Layden said.

Jeffrey Satinover, a psychiatrist and advisor to the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality echoed Layden's concern about the internet and the somatic effects of pornography.

"Pornography really does, unlike other addictions, biologically cause direct release of the most perfect addictive substance," Satinover said. "That is, it causes masturbation, which causes release of the naturally occurring opioids. It does what heroin can't do, in effect."

rehabilitation centres are seeing occupancy rates below 50% and some as low as 40% or less. This is putting many of these centres under threat of clos

Shadow Leader of the House, Theresa May said: “Across the country residential rehabilitation centres are seeing occupancy rates below 50% and some as low as 40% or less. This is putting many of these centres under threat of closure. I see this in my own constituency with the Yeldall Manor centre. The problem seems to be Government targets which local drug action teams find it easier to meet by putting addicts on methadone or sending them to day treatment centres. Yet figures from Scotland recently showed that putting heroin addicts on methadone had a 97% failure rate and recent research showed that overall two-year reconviction rates for people given Drug Treatment and Testing Orders were 80%.
In other words Government targets are driving people into ineffective treatment.

Speed may protect the brain against stroke damage

Methamphetamine reduced damage in rodents when used 16 hours after a stroke – current human treatments must be administered within 3 hours

Energy drink mixers give a false sense of sobriety

It may give you wings, but Red Bull also gives people drinking alcohol the impression that their coordination and vision are unimpaired

Marijuana may cause pregnancies to fail

Smoking the drug near the time of conception could sabotage a pregnancy, research in mice suggests – and a slimming pill may have a similar effect

Amphetamine addiction curbed by dentists' jab

Brain injections of lidocaine, commonly used by dentists to numb patients' gums, temporarily help rats overcome addiction to amphetamines

people may have genes which make them more genetically prone to drug addiction than others

People have been using substances to lift their spirits for millennia. Techniques for fermenting beer and related tipples are known from Egypt and Sumeria 4000 years ago, and they soon spread across the inhabited world. Coca leaves (the source of cocaine), tobacco, and caffeine were also popular with ancient cultures.
Humans may even have an evolutionary pre-disposition to seek out narcotics, even though they can be addictive and damaging. Some people may have genes which make them more genetically prone to drug addiction than others. Even some animals - jaguars, lemurs and bees, for example - have a habit of getting high.

a person’s carving for pornography becomes more frequent and more deviant

Through internet, videos, cable television, satellite and magazines, pornography has become accessible to almost everyone. By its powerful appeal, pornography leads many into sexual addiction which has many harmful side effects. According to Ybarra ML, in a study about children and adolescence who, are exposed to pornography "those who report intentional exposure to pornography, irrespective of source, are significantly more likely to report delinquent behavior and substance use in the previous year. Further, online seekers versus offline seekers are more likely to report clinical features associated with depression and lower levels of emotional bonding with their caregiver" (J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. Sep 2005) Another study by Frei et al, in Switzerland demonstrates the clear relationship of widespread access to pornographic materials on internet with the emergence of "deviant sexual fantasies in men with no previous record of any offences". (Swiss Med Wkly. Aug 2005) According the Maitse T, "There has been a failure to recognize that pornography degrades and disempowers women in the home, workplace, and broader society. Like prostitution, pornography contributes to the creation of an image of women as objects--a view that facilitates rape and domestic violence. The pornography industry both creates and feeds on men's need to control women". (Gend Dev. Nov 1998) In another study Dr. Victor Cline has described the progressive nature of addiction to pornography. Once addicted, a person’s carving for pornography becomes more frequent and more deviant. Becoming desensitized to the material, the individual does not get a thrill from a previously exciting material any longer. Eventually, all these together (increased craving and desensitization), forces many addicts to act out their fantasies on others. (New York: Morality in Media, 1999) Though no one seriously advocates the legalization of cocaine or heroin, however, somehow the pornography industry has managed to convince a large share of the population to accept that viewing porn is not only harmless, but is also a right. By ignoring pornography's true nature as highly addictive and destructive material, we are going to face seriously troubled times. According to Dr. Patrick Carnes, about 3-6 percent of Americans are sexually addicted. That is as many as 20 million people. (Sex Addiction Q&A, May 2005) Not being limited to individuals, however; the epidemic of pornography is one of the leading reasons for family breakdown today. Attending a meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2002, two-thirds of the divorce lawyers indicated that excessive interest in online porn did contribute to more than 50% of divorces they dealt with that year. They also added that pornography almost did not have a role in divorce about seven or eight year earlier. (PR Newswire, Nov 2002) The devastation is not limited to adults either. In an estimate, the US Department of Justice states that about nine out of 10 children of ages 8 to 16 have been exposed to online pornography

What is child sexual abuse?

Child sexual abuse is a sexual act imposed on a child who lacks emotional, maturational, physical and cognitive development. The crime of luring a child into sexual activities is sadly common because of the powerful and dominant position of the adult or older adolescent perpetrator. This is in sharp contrast to the child's age, dependency, lack of knowledge, and subordinate position. Authority, power, corruption of affection, and (sometimes) force enable the perpetrator to easily coerce the child into sexual compliance.

How common is sexual abuse?
25% of all adults have been sexually abused

Statistics suggest that as many as 1 in 4 children becomes a victim of sexual abuse by the time they reach 18 yrs of age

Up to 90% of sexual abuse of children is committed by someone the child knows

Approximately 10% of all victims reporting sexual abuse are boys, but probably more are abused

A study of imprisoned sexual abusers of children revealed that, on the average, they each had molested over 230 victims. Among other things, this indicates how very easy it is for adults to molest children.

Loving and wanting someone who does not love us back

Loving and wanting someone who does not love us back engenders a deep personal wound. Rejection hits a raw nerve whose root begins in childhood. It arouses our abandonment issues. Abandonment is primal fear, the first fear that each of us experience as an infant. It is the fear that we will be left, literally abandoned, with no one to care for us. Abandonment's wound is cumulative. It contains all of our losses, disconnections and disappointments from early on, the death of a parent, a teenage breakup, being out-shown by a sibling, these experiences make us more susceptible to heartbreak when we are abandoned as adults.

one can lead you somewhere that they haven't been

reclaiming the inner child, "No one can lead you somewhere that they haven't been.""

project their own issues of emotional incest and/or sexual abuse onto their patients

(I believe that the cases of "false memories" that are getting a lot of publicity these days are in reality cases of emotional incest - which is rampant in our society and can be devastating to a person's relationship with his/her own sexuality - that are being misunderstood and misdiagnosed as sexual abuse by therapists who have not done their own emotional healing and project their own issues of emotional incest and/or sexual abuse onto their patients).

Richard Monteith, 50, from Whitley Bay, is to plead guilty to murder.

Richard Monteith, 50, from Whitley Bay, is to plead guilty to murder.

Spanish police have charged Monteith and his wife Anne-Marie, with the murder of 63-year-old Diana Dyson, from Sheffield.

But according to Stephen Jakobi, a director of Fair Trials Abroad, Monteith has confessed to the contract killing of Mrs Dyson in the Spanish resort of Torremolinos in March 2002.


Richard Monteith is being held in Spain

Mr Jakobi said Monteith told his Spanish lawyer he had been offered up to £30,000 to carry out the killing.

He said the charity would still act for Monteith's 48-year-old wife as long as she maintained her innocence.

Mr Jakobi said: "Some admissions have been made. The Spanish lawyer said that developments in DNA testing had led to a confession.

"She said what he said was that it was a contract killing and that he was offered a large sum of money to do it."

Mr Jakobi confirmed the amount in question was between 25,000 and 50,000 euros (£16,600 - £33,200).

Tests had shown the DNA of hair found under the victim's fingernails was Mr Monteith's.

'Serious crime'

He is now expected to plead guilty at the forthcoming trial, expected to take place in "a month or two".

But Mr Jakobi said he was worried about the possibility of Mrs Monteith receiving a fair hearing.

He added: "The concern is that there is no money to pay for the legal defence of Mrs Monteith, who still declares her innocence and whose husband still declares her innocence.

"The Spanish legal system is useless for serious crime. Only the young and inexperienced take legal aid cases. The rates are so rotten that serious lawyers don't do it.

"On a murder charge, particularly one where her husband has pleaded guilty, you need a good lawyer."

The couple have been held in prison in Malaga since being charged after Mrs Dyson's body was found in her apartment in Torremolinos on 10 March, 2002.

Detectives believed she was dead for four or five days before she was found.

Human Rights organisations in Egypt have stated that it is likely that the men will receive a minimum sentence of 25 years hard labour.

Majid Nawz, Ian Nesbitt and Rezha Pankhust, all British citizens are facing a military court on 20th October 2002.
Human Rights organisations in Egypt have stated that it is likely that the men will receive a minimum sentence of 25 years hard labour.
Majid Nawaz was on a compulsory year abroad as part of his degree programme. He was sent to Egypt as a SOAS student and enrolled at a course at Alexandria university. Therefore it is his right to have access to support by both SOAS and his host institution in Egypt.

enduring 20 nights on the cold concrete floor of one of South Africa’s most notorious prisons.

Derek Bond, 72, an unassuming wine enthusiast from Bristol, walked free from Durban Central Police Station after enduring 20 nights on the cold concrete floor of one of South Africa’s most notorious prisons.

The story behind Mr Bond’s arrest for international fraud and subsequent release following a misguided FBI investigation would not look out of place in a Hollywood film script.

Prague Piss Up Tours

20 March 2007
Ewan said:
"The whole stag experience was fantastic and everyone had a great time and they all appreciated the time Peter put into the weekend and all his help and advice"

Countries with a hardline stance on drugs

Death penalty
Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Heavy prison sentences
Cyprus: zero tolerance policy towards drugs and possession will usually lead to a hefty fine or even life imprisonment
Greece: possession of even small quantities of drugs can lead to lengthy and even life imprisonment
South East Asia: sentences of 40 to 50 years are not uncommon
Harsh sentences
India: 10 years for smoking cannabis
Italy: Up to 20 years imprisonment
Jamaica: Drug offences result in mandatory prison sentences and large fines. Possession of even small quantities can lead to imprisonment
Morocco: Maximum of 10 years imprisonment plus a fine.
Spain: Sentences for carrying can be up to 12 years
Tunisia: Possession of even a small amount of drugs could cost you a term in prison, while more serious charges may even result in 20 years imprisonment plus a fine
Turkey: Up to 20 years imprisonment
Venezuela: Drug carriers face minimum 10-year prison sentences in harsh conditions

Many countries outside the UK refuse to grant bail before trial and often detain people in solitary confinement

Being caught by UK customs with a small amount of class C drugs, for personal use only, may just get you a financial penalty rather than a court case, however you will get a customs record, and if caught again you will get a criminal prosecution. If someone you are travelling with is caught with drugs, you are likely to be searched and questioned too. If you are caught with drugs on you as well, no matter how small the amount, you will both get the same legal penalties.
You will still get a criminal record in the UK if caught with drugs abroad, which may effect future employment. This may also mean that you are refused a visa for the some countries including the USA.
If you've been caught with drugs abroad, you're unlikely to ever be allowed to visit the country again.
If you get injured or ill as a result of drugs, your holiday insurance may be invalidated and your tour operator can refuse to fly you home.

Brits have been arrested for purchasing souvenirs that were, or looked like, antiques

Brits have been arrested for purchasing souvenirs that were, or looked like, antiques and which local customs authorities believed were national treasures. This is especially true in Turkey, Egypt and Mexico

arrested for possessing prescription drugs

A number of travellers have been arrested for possessing prescription drugs, particularly tranquilizers and amphetamines, that they purchased legally in certain Asian countries and then brought to some countries in the Middle East where they are illegal.

Others have been arrested for purchasing prescription drugs abroad in quantities that local authorities suspected were for commercial use.

victimization of motorists has been refined to an art

In many places frequented by tourists, including areas of southern Europe, victimization of motorists has been refined to an art. Where it is a problem, British embassies are aware of it and consular officers try to work with local authorities to warn the public about the dangers.

Carjackers and thieves operate at petrol stations, car parks, in city traffic and along the highway. Be suspicious of anyone who hails you or tries to get your attention when you are in or near your car. In some urban areas, thieves don't waste time on ploys, they simply smash car windows at traffic lights, grab your valuables or your car and get away.

In cities around the world, "defensive driving" has come to mean more than avoiding auto accidents; it means keeping an eye out for potentially criminal pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders.

India, Thailand and Australia also appear in the top ten countries where Briton’s required consular assistance

The Czech Republic features as one of the countries where most consular assistance is required with a disproportionate number of lost passports, arrests and hospitalisations. This is likely to be due to the massive influx of hen and stag parties to Prague.

India, Thailand and Australia also appear in the top ten countries where Briton’s required consular assistance - perhaps suggesting although Brits are getting more adventurous with their travels they are not doing enough preparation before they go. The high figures in India might well be a result of many British Asians visiting family members and forgoing usual travel preparations such as vaccinations or travel insurance.

Fair Trials Abroad may be called on to help with the actual investigation of a crime

Fair Trials Abroad may be called on to help with the actual investigation of a crime, in some cases even gathering evidence and statements.

"When you suffer a miscarriage of justice and you have been arrested for something you did not do, you will have a sense of rage, as will your relatives, and that may transcend you being reasonable," Mr Jakobi said.

"Quite obviously your first reaction will be to wonder where the Foreign Office is and ask why they are not securing your release. That is when we have to work together."

Henry Stableford has been freed.

The Italian authorities exceeded the 30 day limit to present necessary papers from Morroco as these had not been forthcoming.

However, the effort will continue as the arrest warrants are still active. We will be building a campaign and amending this website to reflect this over the coming days.

SECOND INNOCENT BRITISH MAN ARRESTED ABROAD ON GROUNDLESS CHARGES FACES EXTRADITION TO MOROCCO

Another innocent British man has been arrested abroad in connection with the delivery of a boat to Morocco in 1997. Henry Stableford, a member of the ill-fated UK crew of Duanas has just been arrested in Fano Italy, on an international arrest warrant and now faces extradition to Morocco.

Almost one year ago crewmember John Packwood was released from a Moroccan prison after His Majesty the King of Morocco granted his freedom before his trial on the basis that there was no case to answer. A second innocent crewmember is now confronted by the same nightmare ordeal.

Unbelievably, Byranston educated Henry Stableford 31, a keen sailor who was a 21 year old deck hand on the Duanas at the time, now faces extradition to Morocco on the same groundless charges. He was working in Fano, on the Adriatic coast, as a subcontracted boat builder for Wally Yachts. He is currently in Pesaro prison.

The Duanas was formerly HMS Cygnet, a Royal Navy patrol vessel once commanded by Tim Lawrence, the Princess Royal’s husband, and sold by HMG through a broker to the new owners. Like Mr Packwood, Henry responded to the advertisement to deliver the boat from Southampton in 1997. Upon arrival in Agadir, and after the boat being thoroughly searched and cleared by Moroccan customs, the hapless UK crew returned home.

Two months later and unbeknown to the crew and sellers of the boat, the Duanas was used by a Columbian drug cartel with a Columbian crew to smuggle cocaine. They were caught off the Moroccan coast. No suggestion was ever made or evidence tendered to suggest the UK crew or the sellers of the boat knew that the owner was part of a cartel, or that they had any nexus whatsoever to the drugs later seized from the vessel. The UK crews’ only crime therefore, was that of answering an advert on a reputable crew agency website (Crewseekers) to deliver a boat from A to B.

Over seven years later in October 2004, totally unaware that a Moroccan court had issued an international arrest warrant for the UK crew, John Packwood went on holiday to Spain. Thereupon he was arrested and spent over a year fighting extradition from a Madrid prison (a process that took no notice of evidence and was merely procedural). Inevitably, he was extradited to Morocco.

The injustice of John’s case attracted the support of many celebrities and well known public figures, including George Clooney, Hugh Grant, Mark Knofler, Andrew Turner MP and numerous MEPS, who campaigned for his release with his lawyers. The proof of innocence and groundswell of support led to the welcomed intervention of the King of Morocco, before Mr Packwood’s trial, who granted his freedom based on there being no case to answer. Thankfully, after a nightmare ordeal, Mr Packwood was back home for Christmas 2005 with his family.

Human rights is a very flexible concept... It depends how hypocritical you want to be on a particular day

A former CIA official has confirmed suspicions that dozens of terror suspects have been flown to jails in Middle Eastern countries where torture is routinely practised, and without reference to courts of law.
Michael Scheuer, who once headed the hunt for Osama Bin Laden and left the CIA last November after a 22-year career, said the practice, known as "extraordinary rendition", was seen by the US as a key tactic in its war on terror.

"The bottom line is getting anyone off the streets who is involved in acts of terrorism is a worthwhile activity," he told the BBC's File On 4 programme.


Mike Scheuer,
former CIA agent
Mr Scheuer said the operation was authorised at the highest levels of the CIA and the White House and was approved by their lawyers.


"The practice of capturing people and taking them to second or third countries arose because the Executive assigned the job of dismantling terrorist cells to the CIA.

"When the agency came back and said 'Where do you want to take them?' the message was 'That's your job'."

He added: "The idea that this is a rogue operation that someone has dreamt up is just absurd. I personally have no problem with doing any operation as long as it's justified legal by my superiors."

2,421 British nationals detained overseas

As at 30 September 2006, British consular officials were aware of 2,421 British nationals detained overseas. We provide consular assistance to any British national, regardless of country of residence. Additionally collecting data on nation of residence would not be possible because laws covering permanent residence

Seven British nationals were arrested in the early hours of this morning, between 2am and 4am, outside a nightclub near the stadium after being involv

The supporters were detained following a fracas outside a nightclub in the capital city of Skopje, the Foreign Office said.
All have since been released without charge following the incident near the Skopje City Stadium and will be free to watch the tie against Rabotnicki.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Seven British nationals were arrested in the early hours of this morning, between 2am and 4am, outside a nightclub near the stadium after being involved in a fight.
"All seven were taken to the local police station, questioned and released without charge."

“Addiction” is treated behaviorally, so it must be a behavioral problem.

New brain scan studies are showing that behavioral treatments (i.e., psychotherapy) and medications work similarly in changing brain function. So chemical dependence is a brain disease that can be treated by changing brain function, through several different types of treatments.

Methadone treatment simply involves substituting one addicting drug for another.

While methadone is a drug that produces dependence, methadone has been shown to reduce the craving for the dangerous illegal drug heroin. By placing an “addict” into a controlled methadone program, clinicians can monitor their progress, encourage abstinence from heroin, help the addict find a job, and gradually reduce the methadone dose. Many people choose to take methadone in place of heroin, which is less dangerous than injecting heroin “on the street”. Also, there is some sentiment for providing free heroin to opioid-dependent people, to make them more comfortable, reducing their criminal behavior, and helping them find places for treatment. Many of these people actually want help but can’t find it.

Addiction” is a will-power problem.

This is an old belief, probably based upon wanting to blame “addicts” for using drugs to excess. This myth is reinforced by the observation that most “treatments” for alcoholism and “addiction” are behavioral (talk) therapies (including Twelve Steps). But “addiction” occurs in a subconscious area of the brain that is not under conscious control, the mesolimbic dopamine system. Also, there appears to be a pathology of the frontal lobes associated with chemical dependence, and frontal lobes are were decision-making takes place in the brain. If there is a problem with the decision-making portion of the brain, can we say they have weak “will-power” when that portion of the brain is not working properly?

“Addicts” are bad, crazy, or stupid

. Evolving research is demonstrating that “addicts” (people who are dependent according to DSM criteria) are not bad people who need to get good, crazy people who need to get sane, or stupid people who need education. Chemically-dependent people have a brain disease that goes beyond their use of drugs.

Marijuana is not addicting.

Marijuana is not addicting. According to the latest (DSM) accepted diagnostic criteria, about 10% of the population can become dependent on (“addicted” to) marijuana.

There is a high rate of “addiction” when stimulants are used to treat ADHD (ADD

There is a high rate of “addiction” when stimulants are used to treat ADHD (ADD). We do not yet understand why “addicting” drugs produce a low rate of dependence when used therapeutically. Studies have found that few children (accurately diagnosed) with attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADHD, ADD) become dependent upon stimulants such as Ritalin, dextroamphetamine, Adderall, etc.). In fact, if such children are not treated, they tend to self-medicate with worse drugs (cocaine, alcohol) later in life.

Most people given these pain-killers will go through withdrawal but will never want or need the drug again.

Therapeutic pain-killers (such as morphine) produce a high rate of “addiction”. Actually, since we know that “addiction” is actually “dependence” as defined by DSM, we now know that the likelihood of becoming dependent on opioid pain-killers is actually quite low. Where the confusion comes in is when people erroneously believe that “withdrawal” is synonymous with “addiction”. (Withdrawal is also known as “physiological dependence” – confusing enough?) Most people given these pain-killers will go through withdrawal but will never want or need the drug again.

Withdrawal = “addiction”.

Withdrawal = “addiction”. Many people erroneously think that if a person goes through withdrawal after a long period of drug use, they are “addicted”. What about cocaine, which produces little observable withdrawal? When a person goes through withdrawal from morphine after several weeks’ treatment with the drug, does that mean they are “addicted” for life? Remember that withdrawal is only one of seven criteria for dependence (“addiction”) and a person must have three of the criteria to be diagnosed as dependent.

MYTHS

Compulsive sexual behavior is an “addiction”. While "sexual addiction” is an accepted term, there is very little about compulsive sexual behavior that is similar to the destructive overuse and dependence upon chemicals that are toxic to the body. The new DSM criteria for abuse and dependence are designed to characterize "substance" (drug, chemical) pathologies, so sex cannot by definition fit these criteria. A better term (perhaps more easily covered by insurance?) is "compulsive sexual behavior".

Compulsive gambling is an “addiction”. Let's be careful what we call things! As with compulsive sexual behavior, gambling has very little in common with drugs that produce dependence. Is there any value in calling compulsive gambling an “addiction”?
Isn’t it less stigmatizing to label it “pathological gambling”, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual?

Withdrawal = “addiction”. Many people erroneously think that if a person goes through withdrawal after a long period of drug use, they are “addicted”. What about cocaine, which produces little observable withdrawal? When a person goes through withdrawal from morphine after several weeks’ treatment with the drug, does that mean they are “addicted” for life? Remember that withdrawal is only one of seven criteria for dependence (“addiction”) and a person must have three of the criteria to be diagnosed as dependent.

Sanctions were made by US and EU but made no difference for more than a decade.

Throughout the past 15 years or so, UN sent representatives to solve national reconciliation in Myanmar. But all the efforts these representatives made were in vain since the Burmese dictator is not willing to move a step towards national reconciliation. Sanctions were made by US and EU but made no difference for more than a decade.

The number of political prisoners is around 1400 and still increasing rapidly these days. National leader Daw Aung San Su Kyi was under house arrest since 2003. Some of elected representatives of 1990 election were in jail or exile. They restrict all the activities of NLD party and keep arresting party members. And, according to confirmed news, five monks died after yesterday's clashes.

So, what will be next after this UN Security Council meeting? We, the people of Burma, need direct actions from UN. A possibility could be deploying UN peace keeping troops and help establishing interim government.

Rangoon Burma

Both the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian are carrying disturbing photos and stories about what’s happening in Burma. The military are rounding up Buddhist monks in trucks and taking them away so they can’t come to the city to protest. They killed a Japanese photographer who was capturing the unrest on film, and apparently went searching for more foreign journalists in a nearby city hotel. The Australian reports that 11 people at least have been killed and that this tactic of letting people protest for a few days and then cracking down is to enable to military junta to identify those who are protesting.