When an individual has been consuming opioids for an extended period, a phenomenon known as physical dependence occurs. Because of physical dependence, when the opioids are discontinued abruptly, or the dosage is dropped significantly, the individual experiences withdrawal through the process of detoxification. Historically, people were forced to endure withdrawal symptoms without medical treatment in jail cells, drunk tanks, or compulsory treatment centers. Nowadays, withdrawal management includes education, treatment of withdrawal symptoms, and referrals for further care, which is almost always required for individuals to achieve long-term sobriety. Inpatient and residential treatment are two options for care after detoxification, and various individual factors must be considered when choosing the best type of treatment for that person.

Before the 20th century, most rules of international law were in the form of customary international law. Since then, the increased complexity of international relations and rapid international development have led to a substantial growth in the number and diversity of treaties. Article 38(1)(a) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice (‘ICJ Statute’) recognises treaties as a (material) source of international law by referring to ‘international conventions, whether general or particular, establishing rules expressly recognized by the contesting states’. Treaties now regulate trade, communications, environmental protection, military cooperation and defence, and human rights, to name but a few of the myriad topics. International environmental law, for example, is almost entirely governed by treaties, and international trade, investment and communications ‘are unimaginable without treaties’. The main rules in the law of treaties are contained in the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (‘VCLT’), which governs treaty relations between states and is the focus of this chapter.

International organisations include global organisations such as the United Nations and regional organisations such as the European Union. The chapter examines constituent instruments and their interpretation, membership (which may include non-state entities) and withdrawal, including the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. International organisations have the capacity to enter into treaties but may only conclude agreements in those areas in which they are competent to act. The Vienna Convention of 1986 adapts the rules of the 1969 Convention to apply to international organisations, but it is not yet in force. The chapter examines bodies which play a role in recommending or negotiating treaty texts (including the United Nations, UN Sixth Committee and the International Law Commission) and those which play a role in settling disputes (such as the International Court of Justice) and in monitoring compliance (such as the Human Rights Committee). It looks at special cases, including the OSCE, Commonwealth and European Union.

A common care location for seizure and epilepsy patients is the emergency department and inpatient setting. A thorough history to discern a specific diagnosis and localization guides testing and treatment decisions. These decisions include the need for additional imaging/laboratory testing and whether to start an antiseizure medicine (ASM). Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are often required with time length depending on clinical question. If an epilepsy diagnosis is certain without clear localization, one hour of testing is preferred. If the question (or diagnosis) is status epilepticus, 24-hour EEG is indicated. For patients with known epilepsy, ASM alteration can occur for seizures with appropriate compliance. If there is noncompliance, an ASM increase may not be required. The perioperative period requires ASM continuation, although the administration route may change. Patients with renal or hepatic impairment often necessitate dose adjustment. Specific situations like alcohol withdrawal seizures have accepted paradigms to follow and are discussed. Lastly, patients in epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) are hospitalized for diagnostic reasons with management needs different than other epilepsy patients.

The Book’s theoretical core, Chapter II focuses on two fundamental concepts: the close corporation, and withdrawal. After explaining the close corporation’s distinctive features, I set out its cardinal problems: conflict between minority and majority shareholders, and the enhanced risk of inter-shareholder exploitation. Over time, leading jurisdictions have converged upon shareholder exit as the ultimate solution to shareholder conflict. This Chapter introduces the concept of ‘withdrawal remedies’ as legal mechanisms enabling voluntary shareholder exit from the corporation coupled with an enforceable monetary claim for the value of the withdrawing shareholder’s membership interest. I show how withdrawal remedies are the only class of solutions that 1) resolve intractable conflict and 2) protect minority shareholders. Reasons why shareholders (minority and majority) might find access to withdrawal desirable – and why they might not – are analysed by applying insights and concepts from behavioural law and economics such as ‘sticky defaults’ to the close corporation withdrawal context.

Serial lust killing shows features of addiction, and some killers describe themselves as addicted. Comparisons of lust killing with such addictions as gambling, drugs and consensual sex reveal similarities. Following Robinson and Berridge, it is suggested that the motivational process involves dopamine and exhibits sensitization of incentive salience with experience of killing. Lust killing shows several common properties with other addictions: seeking to repeat the first ‘high’, escalation, increased wanting over time, gateway activities (soft drugs → hard drugs; rape → killing), ambivalence in engaging, stress increases the tendency to engage in the addictive activity, a sudden high often followed by an aversive condition, craving and a temporary correction of such feelings as hopelessness, lacking control and powerlessness. The urge to kill can suddenly occupy the conscious mind. Lust killers commonly consume alcohol in association with killing. Comparisons reveal some common properties between lust killing and war-time killing.

This chapter focuses on the rules set out in the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT). The chapter begins with the concept of a treaty, before discussing treatymaking, with a particular focus on the conclusion of treaties, their entry into force, and reservations to treaties. The chapter then delves into how treaties operate -- namely, their scope of application and their interpretation. Finally, this chapter looks at the invalidity, suspension, and termination of treaties.

Benzodiazepines, Z-drugs and gabapentinoids are commonly prescribed medications with multiple indications that have the potential for misuse and dependence. Benzodiazepines enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABA-A receptor, resulting in sedative, anxiolytic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant properties. The ‘Z-drugs’ (zopiclone and zolpidem) are non-benzodiazepine hypnotics that also have an agonist effect at the GABA-A receptor. The gabapentinoids (pregabalin and gabapentin) act to decrease central neuronal excitability by binding to α2-δ protein subunits of voltage-activated calcium channels on the neuronal membrane. They were initially marketed as antiepileptic drugs, but are now licensed for use in neuropathic pain and generalised anxiety disorder. This chapter considers each class in turn, exploring the pharmacokinetics, metabolism and potential desired effects that lead to misuse. A practical method for assessing people with potential dependence is described for each substance, as well as strategies to support stabilisation, withdrawal and relapse prevention.

This chapter looks at ‘club drugs’ and novel psychoactive substances (NPSs; previously known as ‘legal highs’). It examines the acute and chronic adverse health effects of these drugs and focuses in particular on their effects on mental health, including their dependence liability and associated withdrawal symptoms. The chapter is based on the best available research evidence on NPSs, which is currently limited, but nonetheless broadly consistent. It also provides practical patient case studies to illustrate key clinical points. Overall, the evidence suggests that interventions aimed at NPSs must be based on the guiding principles and national guidelines used for the management of substance misuse in general. However, NPSs pose a number of additional challenges, which are highlighted in this chapter. This chapter also establishes a conceptual framework for NPSs, which is crucial in helping clinicians to navigate the hundreds of new substances detected in recent years while allowing them to drawn on their existing experience of substance misuse.

International law depends on foreign relations law not only to establish the means by which states can consent to treaty obligations, but also the means to fulfill any resulting obligations, including by incorporating treaties into domestic law. Given that, the professed indifference of international law towards it—as toward other forms of domestic law—is puzzling. It is also misleading. As is widely evident, international affairs create an opportunity for certain domestic actors, usually executives, to assume additional authority. Less obviously, international law, reflected in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT), actually influences foreign relations law relating to the creation and elimination of international treaty obligations – encouraging even those states that possess other constitutional agents to regard executive power as sufficient. The homogenizing effects of particular international law rules is an important complement to the study of comparative foreign relations law.

The second case study chapter analyses the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in marketised global justice. A particular focus is on the treaty relationships between the ICC and other organisations, which integrate a global trade regime with a global criminal law regime. To demonstrate how this works, the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) is analysed. The CPA, a treaty regime that overlooks trade and political relationships between the European Union and seventy-nine African, Caribbean, and Pacific states, is presented as a mechanism that throws light on the ICC’s role in enabling and encasing. This integrated trade law and criminal law perspective offers a novel reading of the 2016 withdrawal announcements of three African states from the ICC. It also presents the reading of new policies by the ICC (in response to the backlash against it) as a ‘re-brand’ and therefore as deeper integration with the market.