A squaddie friend of mine who visited me on Koh Phangan in August sent me this.

"Just a quick one mate, I brought some sleeping tablets in Thailand In august, called Xanax. Any way got drug tested when I got back and tested positive for them, problem is its a class c prescription drug here. Obviously I don't have a prescription.

Can you think of a way I can get hold of any proof that you can buy em over the counter in Thailand mate ???

I'm pucka in the s**t and any help you can think of would be a massive help"

Unfortunately I am in the UK at the moment and I don't think a google search of hearsay and opinions will satisfy the British Army.

So, is there any proof that I can send him.

Thanks in Advance

They are prescription only in Thailand.

Some pharmacists do sell it over the counter illegally.

Cant he just say his drink must have been spiked or something, I'm surprised they test for Xanax.

It is a prescription only drug in Thailand as well as mentioned by the previous poster so getting a pharmacy to confirm an over the counter sale of this will never happen.

The only way forward is for him to admit in the follow up of the positive test that he did buy it over the counter and the last time and dosage taken.

Why cant he just say he went to a Doctor here and was perscribed them for anxiety?

Tell them he had anxiety attacks about Iraq or something and was given them over the counter whilst on Holiday, or the long flight on the aircraft was too stressful and another passenger gave him some tablets to help him sleep, pretty pathetic excuses but the Doctor might believe him.

Heard many pathetic ones myself whilst in the Army, so you never know your luck till you try it.