DRUGS+IN+VIETNAM

DRUGS IN VIETNAM



Marijuana: Marijuana, also know as Cannabis, is a plant that produces the psychoactive THC. It is the most widely used illegal psychoactive and has a long history of medicinal, recreational, and industrial use. When used, Marijuana causes distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. While it is unproven, the Gateway Drug Theory hypothesizes that the habitual use of less deleterious drugs, such as Marijuana, may lead to a future risk of using more dangerous hard drugs. Use in Vietnam: Soldiers began using marijuana in Vietnam as early as 1963, before its use became widespread in the United States. From that point on, its popularity grew steadily. Many soldiers in Vietnam smoked marijuana and took other drugs despite the fact they would not do so at home.   For most of the Vietnam War, prosecution for even a slight trace of marijuana was a court-martial offense for Marines. However, the Army only took dealers and users of hard drugs to trial. Although marijuana use was first ignored by the Army, newspaper stories describing its widespread use helped publicize this situation, inclining Army officials to label it as a problem. As a result, measures were taken to prevent its use. Drug education lectures became mandatory, troop quarters and secluded fields were searched for marijuana, and soldiers were warned that marijuana use could cause not only physiological damage and lead to psychosis, but also result in injury to men dependent on them. In 1968, arrests for marijuana possession reached as many as 1,000 in a single week. Marijuana is also fairly easy to detect; it produces a distinct odor when smoked. For that reason, Marijuana became less and less popular as the war went on.

Heroin: Heroin is a synthetic opiate drug that is highly addictive. It is made from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant. Heroin usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black sticky substance, known as “black tar heroin." When injected, users report feeling a surge of euphoria. Following this initial euphoria, the user goes “on the nod,” an alternately wakeful and drowsy state. Mental functioning becomes clouded. Users who do not inject the drug may not experience the initial rush, but other effects are the same. Use in Vietnam: In Vietnam, heroin use was done casually by U.S. troops. More than one-third picked up the habit during their first month in Vietnam, and an estimated 90 percent picked it up in their first four months. All ethnic and educational groups were represented in about equal proportion and users existed in administrative, combat-support, and combat occupational specialties. Heroin was considered more pure in Vietnam than in the United States and there were no deaths from overdose. While there were attempts to crack down on the heroin use, it was much too difficult. With drug smuggling fixed among the Vietnamese air force, army, navy, police, customs, and politicians, the importation and sale of narcotics was too lucrative to eliminate. Military commands employed the media to inform personnel of the moral, legal, and physical consequences of drug use. Pamphlets were created and distributed to platoon leaders, drug education teams gave lectures, and drug abuse councils were created, traveling from unit to unit to spread the word. However, education also failed to stem the use of heroin. Military officers turned to punishment. Starting in June of 1971, soldiers planning on returning home we forced to submit to a urinalysis test that detected heroin use within the previous five days. Soldiers with positive test results were forced to stay in Vietnam until they were able to pass the test. By September (only three months later), 3,580 armed forces personnel had tested positive for heroin use.



Opium: Opiates and opioids are classes of depressant pain-relievers derived from or chemically similar to substances found in the opium poppy. They include both naturally occurring and synthetic substances. Opium is the milky latex fluid contained in the un-ripened seed pod of the opium poppy. As the fluid is exposed to air, it hardens and turns black in color. This dried form is typically smoked, but can also be eaten. Opium has effects upon the body ranging from insensitivity to pain, to narcosis, or depressed physiological activity leading to a dazed state. Opium users describe experiencing a feeling of calm and well-being. Opiates: Morphine and Codeine Opioids: Heroin, Oxycodone, and Methadone



Binoctal: Binoctal is an addictive drug consisting of Amytal and Seconal. Amytal  has sedative, hypnotic and pain-relieving properties while Seconal has sedative, hypnotic, pain-relieving, and anticonvulsants properties. Although technically a prescription drug, Binoctal was available over the counter at almost any Vietnamese pharmacy for about one to five dollars for twenty tablets. Many soldiers would take these tablets alongside alcohol for a "quick high."