Alcohol And Drug Abuse In Vietnam

Drugs in Vietnam were limited to just opium at one point of time. The country had a long history of opium cultivation, mainly among the ethnic minorities. It was not just used as medicine but also for alleviating hunger. In the early 19th century opium from Britain started entering China and then Vietnam. Though banned in 1820, it continued to be smuggled from China. The pattern of drug abuse changed during the Vietnam War when heroin injections and smoking of opium became a serious problem. Interestingly, those who took drugs did not drink alcohol and those who drank did not indulge in drugs.

It was found that deployed army members who faced war situations were more into drug and alcohol abuse. The problem was much less with the non-deployed members or those who did not face combat. Studies have suggested that the use of drugs or alcohol were more of a self-medication for the soldiers. It was a manifestation of their desire to escape or lessen their stressful existence. Many of the soldiers were far too young to buy alcohol, whereas heroin and marijuana were readily available.

Drugs and drinking initially helped to reduce stress but gradually they lead to serious problems. Illicit use of drugs, heavy drinking and use of tobacco jeopardized the performance of the soldiers and put many lives at risk. Accidents occurred, planes were damaged and destroyed and personnel killed. The Armed Forces were forced to declare zero tolerance for drug abuse. Identification of narcotics users began and the process of detoxifying them began. Emphasis was given on single personnel, junior enlisted men and those with high school education or less.

The Vietnam War clearly shows the influence of social circumstances on drug addiction — how taking of drugs starts and continues and how it can be stopped. The military and medical authorities were bracing for drug-related crimes after the war ended. There were thousands of discharged men addicted to drugs. Yet nothing happened. During the war there were no moral or social controls of civilian life. Drugs could be found anywhere and a majority fell prey to it. But once the war stopped and the soldiers returned home, the absence of the liberating factors forced many of the drug abusers to quit. Less than 10 per cent used drugs again.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government was successful in stopping opium cultivation. But over the past few years, there has been an increase in illicit drug trafficking. During the 1990s Vietnam became the transit country for heroin and amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). As a result of this flow of illicit drugs, a huge amount got diverted to the domestic market. Heroin is now the most common drug, especially among the youth. Opium is restricted to the ethnic minority. Homemade alcohol is popular among the rural folks while in urban areas local brands are used.

Vietnam is trying hard to combat the drug menace with help from neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Laos. Assistance from the international community is also being sought. Since the country is considered to be a potential market for alcohol, the government, in a bid to combat, has banned the advertisement of alcohol.

• Juliana Breckinridge
• 02/05/2009, 4:59 AM
• 0 Comments