Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: UK troops receiving 'trigger happy' drug

UK troops receiving 'trigger happy' drug
MURDO MACLEOD
 POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (
mmac...@scotlandonsunday.com
) 
BRITISH troops are being prescribed with a controversial drug which has
been blamed for making US pilots "trigger-happy" and causing friendly fire
deaths. 
The Ministry of Defence has admitted that it prescribes the amphetamine
dexedrine, which is capable of keeping users awake for as long as 60
hours. 
While the MoD has refused to say what it uses the Class B drug for,
leading narcotics experts say that the main purpose is to keep soldiers
awake during special operations. However, they have warned that the
substance can be highly addictive. 
In addition, the MoD has admitted that it permits soldiers to take a drug
called kava-kava, from the South Pacific, which is known to be linked to
severe liver damage. 
Documents obtained under Freedom of Information provisions show that
although the amount the MoD spends on dexedrine is just £32 per year, this
is estimated to be enough for several hundred 5mg doses. A typical course
will see a user given the pills for about two or three days. 
Outwith the armed forces, the amphetamine is used to treat narcolepsy, a
condition where sufferers cannot stop falling asleep at random times. 
In addition to dexedrine, the MoD dispenses a small number of tablets of
ephedrine, which has a similar, though less potent, effect. 
The ministry also spends about £3,000 a year on melatonin, a substance
which aids sleep, in order to get the body clocks of troops into synch
after flying long distances. 
Amphetamines have been controversially used by the US Air Force to keep
pilots awake on long missions, although the UK has always denied giving
the 'go pills' to its pilots. 
In 2002, the 'Tarnak Farm incident' saw US fighter-bombers attack a group
of Canadian soldiers, killing four and wounding another eight near
Kandahar in Afghanistan. 
During official hearings into the incident, the US pilots testified that
they had been ordered to take amphetamines to keep awake. The pilots
blamed the pills for their actions. 
One leading defence insider said: "There are not many uses for these drugs
in the military apart from keeping soldiers awake for long periods. If you
need them for narcolepsy then there is not much point in you being in the
army. 
"Is it operationally justified? Yes - if you are on deep patrol for days
at a time then you need to be awake, otherwise you risk getting killed." 
Dr Paul Skett, a drugs expert at Glasgow University's Institute of
Biological and Life Sciences, said: "It is a matter of concern because
these substances are very addictive indeed. They can also make the user
aggressive." 
The documents also reveal that the MoD has decided to permit the use of
kava-kava, which is popular in Fiji and produces a euphoric high, provided
local commanders don't believe its use compromises operational
effectiveness. 
It is usually taken as a drink after being ground to a fine powder and
mixed with water. 
An MoD policy paper on the substance said: "There is some medical evidence
that kava-kava could be detrimental to health, in particular that it can
cause severe liver damage." 
It added: "Soldiers found to be using kava-kava should be advised of the
potential health risks associated with it." 
Stuart Crawford, defence analyst and former colonel in the Royal Tank
Regiment, said: "Given the number of Fijian soldiers in the army, you
could say it's not surprising." 
There are an estimated 2,600 Fijians in the British Army. 
An MoD spokeswoman said: "Decisions to prescribe medical products are
taken for individual clinical reasons by the appropriately qualified
service medical professionals." 
She added: "Kava-kava is the national drink of Fiji. It is classed as a
food and, as such, is a legal substance." 
Poison gas used in Iraq roadside bombs
POISON gas shells from Saddam Hussein's stockpile of chemical weapons are
being used as roadside bombs against British forces in Iraq, writes Brian
Brady. 
A series of bombs detonated in the Basra area were made from shells looted
from the ammunition dumps discovered before the US-led invasion in 2003,
senior defence sources revealed last night. 
Defence chiefs have now concluded that insurgents have attacked British
Army patrols on at least five occasions using "improvised explosive
devices" (IEDs) fashioned from the shells, a senior Cabinet minister
confirmed. 
It is the first time officials have admitted that British troops have come
under attack from chemical agents in Iraq. 
The disclosure came as United Nations inspectors warned that Iraqi
insurgents had used chemicals such as chlorine, combined with explosives,
in at least 10 attacks and could develop other weapons-grade toxic agents
-- 
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 leghista-scozzese, 'sta robaccia Somarenko?
Ma che ne discuti a fare? La sostanza e' qui:
 > > Documents obtained under Freedom of Information provisions show that
 > > although the amount the MoD spends on dexedrine is just £32 per
 > > year, this is estimated to be enough for several hundred 5mg doses.
Anche se fossero di eroina, che sono 32 £?
Palmiro Pangloss
-- 
Tarpaulin: Amarcord Cold War
http://tarpaulin.blogspot.com/

 intellettuale del soggetto e il desiderio di incitare all'odio.
incitare all'odio? hahahahahahahahahaha
amalric qualche commissione scientifica internazionale dovrebbe
prenderti come modello di coglione.

 Anche se fossero di eroina, che sono 32 £?
Mah. E' una questione reale, di cui si discute da tempo, eh: 
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3071789/
Bye.
Namib 

 E' una questione reale, di cui si discute da tempo, eh:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3071789/
Lo so, ma se ne vogliamo discutere va messa nelle giuste dimensioni:
riguarda pochi uomini per poco tempo. Di qui si puo' disapprovare o
meno - io BTW se la cosa rimane nei casi attuali non disapprovo - ma
dal dato non si puo' prescindere.
Palmiro Panglos