Drug Use In Vietnam War

“In the Spring of 1970, there were two people overdosing a month, by that Fall there were two people overdosing a day.” - ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFHtv7dUX-E ) . In this essay, I will be discussing the Vietnam war that took place between 1955-1975, and to what extent did drug usage by the soldiers in the Vietnam war has a negative impact on the conflict. I have three key questions used for answering my hypothesis. Firstly, how did drugs affect soldiers and their bodies during the war? Secondly, what were the repercussions of drug usage in soldiers after the war and how did this impact on society. Lastly, where did the drugs originate from and why were they supplied? There were many illicit stimulants, as well as, many harmful but

Further research into the drug Darvon, showed that there were enormous risk factors for little reward. Darvon was given as a mild pain-reliever and cough suppressant. However, society, the government, and soldiers were not made fully aware of the consequences as the drug received an FDA approval in 1957…. This makes me question how much research, time and effort was put into the lives of these soldiers. So, what were the repercussions? Studies have shown that there is a very narrow margin between a safe and harmful dosage. Overdosage of the drug propoxyphene, which is found in Darvon, can even be fatal, especially when consumed alongside alcohol, a sedative or an antidepressant. Side effects, like allergic reactions, seizures, and addiction were prominent in combat. The wife of one young Vietnam veteran stated, “he came back a war hero, also a drug addict”-( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFHtv7dUX-E ). This is an example of how a part of society was impacted by the repercussions of drug usage in the war. Darvon can also cause serious heart problems because of the cardio toxic metabolite found in propoxyphene. It has even shown potentially dangerous heart electrical changes in healthy people consuming the drug. “The benefits no longer outweigh its serious heart risks” – Dr. John Jenkins. This quote is essential as it backs up my research that Darvon causes

In the 1960’s to 70,’s the anti-communist Chinese Nationalist were established near the Sine-Burmese border and Hmong tribesman in Laos. This helped develop the scandalous ‘golden triangle’ manufacture territory, which provided about one-third of the heroin consumed in the U.S. after the withdrawal in 1973. The ‘golden triangle’ is one of Asia’s two main opium-producing areas. It has been one of the most extensive opium-producing areas of Asia, and of the world, since the 1950s. Most of the world's heroin came from the Golden Triangle until the early 21st century when Afghanistan became the world's largest producer.- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Triangle_(Southeast_Asia)) Furthermore, during the war, there was an abundance of opium and heroin in Vietnam for both the population and the United States military personnel.The availability of the drug was staggering. “You could just buy it by the roadside”, Patrick L who is a Vietnam veteran recalls “there was every kind of drug and alcohol for sale: American beer and hard alcohol, but also grass, pills of every kind and harder hallucinogens. In several regions, you could buy pure, liquid opium in a large flask for around $10. We just used to dip cigarettes and joints in it. This one flask was more than you could use in a month, even if you had a genuine habit, which I ultimately did.” During leave, when he