British man arrested in Dubai for carrying anti-depressants

In most of these cases it is difficult to not think the obvious.

I would demand UK customs to be very suspicious of someone who has stockpiled 6 months of controlled medication entering the UK with that medication without prior approval from UK customs or a UK/EU doctor.

Obviously I would also expect us to deal with the matter in an expedited manner.
 
Why would you be travelling to UAE for 6 months after being diagnosed with highly aggressive cancer?

you wouldn't, he was diagnosed afterwards apparently

Who prescribes a 6 months supply of anti-depressants without regular checkups?

his doctor

he's had anxiety for years apparently... presumably he's been taking the medication for years too - he's in maritime security, some of the people working in that industry need to stay in international waters for prolonged periods of time (because of the weapons they need to carry for the job) - they will be going back and forth from client ships they need to protect in dangerous waters, to special boats that basically act as floating armouries... so he can't exactly pop down to boots and get more!
 
Sounds more like he is Addicted to them to me. Has withdrawal symptoms like an actual drug addiction.

erm they are "actual drugs"

stopping, for example, citalopram suddenly can indeed cause serious side effects... if you've been on it long term then you need to taper off it over the course of a few weeks
 
erm they are "actual drugs"

stopping, for example, citalopram suddenly can indeed cause serious side effects... if you've been on it long term then you need to taper off it over the course of a few weeks

^^ This.

I've been on Citalopram for years. It's good stuff, works very well for me. It's not addictive, but going cold turkey is still a really bad idea because the side effects are not pleasant.

I used to be on Effexor XR. That stuff was horrible, and I speak from experience when I say that going cold turkey from it will really make you suffer.
 
In most of these cases it is difficult to not think the obvious.

I would demand UK customs to be very suspicious of someone who has stockpiled 6 months of controlled medication entering the UK with that medication without prior approval from UK customs or a UK/EU doctor.

Obviously I would also expect us to deal with the matter in an expedited manner.

My first though was what would have happened to the guy if he entered the US with that much?

I’m guessing he would quite possibly be in the same situation there too unfortunately.
 
Totally misleading title, the man was arrested for being in possession of 6 months worth of controlled drugs, clonazepam and temazepam are tranquilizers that have the same effect as Valium, they are not antidepressants.

As much as I hate the backwards place, it has been totally misrepresented.
 
Is Dubai really that backwards? I think it's extremely forward looking, that's how they've managed to built a trading port/hub in 20 years out of nowhere, it attracts people from all over the world and has the world's busiest international airport too.
Oh and there's very little corruption and the rule of law prevails.
I don't think that can be achieved by being backwards.
 
Is Dubai really that backwards? I think it's extremely forward looking, that's how they've managed to built a trading port/hub in 20 years out of nowhere, it attracts people from all over the world and has the world's busiest international airport too.

I don't think that can be achieved by being backwards.

Have you ever heard of a thing called the British Empire? Biggest empire in the world built on the back of slavery.

The laws are incredibly authoritarian, expect to get thrown in prison for being gay.
 
Totally misleading title, the man was arrested for being in possession of 6 months worth of controlled drugs, clonazepam and temazepam are tranquilizers that have the same effect as Valium, they are not antidepressants.

As much as I hate the backwards place, it has

been totally misrepresented.

no it hasn't been "totally misrepresented", clonazepam is used in conjunction with SSRIs to treat depression/anxiety - but really you're just trying to pointlessly nit pick there anyway, the issue is that the guy was traveling with medication that is legal in the UAE and that he has valid prescriptions for...

whether you want to argue the toss over whether the medications which he has a prescription for are anti anxiety, anti depression or whatever meds.. is rather irrelevant - they're controlled meds regardless but still legal and he's got a prescription

My first though was what would have happened to the guy if he entered the US with that much?

I’m guessing he would quite possibly be in the same situation there too unfortunately.

rather unlikely, these are medications that are legal in the USA and which he has prescriptions for... what exactly do you think the US authorities would charge him with? Unlike the UAE the US does have a (sort of) functioning legal system

The laws are incredibly authoritarian, expect to get thrown in prison for being gay.

also illegal for tourists to drink alcohol over there... something that some of the people who like to claim that "you just need to follow the local laws" probably aren't even aware of as they have a beer in their hotel bar
 
Have you ever heard of a thing called the British Empire? Biggest empire in the world built on the back of slavery.

The laws are incredibly authoritarian, expect to get thrown in prison for being gay.

I think their competitive advantage is that it's authoritarian in nature.
 
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