Social norms and political constructions of drug use: A narrative story of Vietnam

Abstract

Situated close to the Golden Triangle region, and lying across important South-East Asian region traffic routes, Vietnam has a long history of drug use. The negative attitudes among Vietnamese people towards drug use have emerged from the past actions of colonial governments and recently been influenced by social media and political factors. Yet the reality of drug use is more complex, and it is essential to move beyond the overly simple axiom that drug use causes addiction and crime. Combining historical narratives and grey literature, this paper argues that drug use has been politically and socially constructed in Vietnam rather than based on evidence or rationale. Moving forward on harm reduction in drug policy, Vietnam should need more specific actions with its clear plans to at least support drug users during and post detoxication in voluntary community’s models as well as methadone maintenance treatment rather than in compulsory treatment centres.