Shortly after the programme was finished, it was discovered that the combination of NAPS, DEET and permethrin (insecticides) potentiates side effects: "Pyridostigmine Bromide pumps more DEET and permethrin into the central nervous system." (Dr Abou-Donia, Dept of Pharmacology, Duke University Medical Centre, North Carolina, USA, May 1996.) Even more recently, "caffeine was found to strongly potentiate lethal pyridostigmine Bromide effects." (Dr Chaney, Dept of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi, August 1997.)

NAPS was given without informed consent which contravenes the Geneva Convention of Human Rights. Medical records were poorly kept and there was no follow up research carried out to determine the effectiveness and/or side effects of NAPS.

In America, the Pentagon has admitted they have a serious problem and a lot of research has already been carried out. The UK is slow to respond to the plea for help from the veterans. With only a few research centres in the UK (two in London and one in Scotland) many veterans are too ill to travel long distances to the centres. So how many veterans in the UK are there? Over 1000 are claiming to have GWS. But this is just a small fraction of the true numbers. In the USA there are around 100,000 sufferers - approximately one in three veterans.