Drug policy in Vietnam: A decade of change?

Vuong, Thu Trang; Ali, Robert; Baldwin, Simon; Mills, Stephen

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2011.11.005

Cited by 47 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Concern over the rapid escalation of drug use and HIV in the early 1990s led to government campaigns that linked the spread of HIV to drug users and labeled drug use a “social evil” (Hammett et al, 2008; Thi et al, 2008; Vuong, Ali, Baldwin & Mills, 2012). Measures to reduce drug use included compulsory detoxification in drug treatment centers, or “06 centers” (following Government Resolution No.06 that established them), managed by the Ministry of Labor, War, Invalids and Social Affairs, where drug users undergo a brief course of detoxification, followed by vocational training and manual labor for 2–4 years (Hammett, et al, 2008; Quan, Hien, & Go, 2008; Vuong, et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measures to reduce drug use included compulsory detoxification in drug treatment centers, or “06 centers” (following Government Resolution No.06 that established them), managed by the Ministry of Labor, War, Invalids and Social Affairs, where drug users undergo a brief course of detoxification, followed by vocational training and manual labor for 2–4 years (Hammett, et al, 2008; Quan, Hien, & Go, 2008; Vuong, et al, 2012). As a result of their association with “social evils,” both drug users and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) are highly stigmatized and marginalized (Hong, Nguyen, & Ogden, 2004; Thi, et al, 2008; Vuong, et al, 2012). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

“In their perception we are addicts”: Social vulnerabilities and sources of support for men released from drug treatment centers in Vietnam

Tomori¹,

Go²,

Tuan³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Drug Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Amid the global transition to treat opioid addiction as an illness, many people who inject drugs (PWID) face heterogeneous legal environments that include both punitive and harm reduction measures. In Vietnam, many PWID, who have a high burden of HIV, are sent to drug treatment centers, or “06 centers”, for compulsory detoxification, vocational training, and labor for up to four years. This study investigates the challenges and facilitators of reentry into community and family life among men who are released from “06 centers” and provides insights and recommendations for developing policies and interventions that address special needs of this vulnerable population. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted in 2011 by trained interviewers among a sample of 43 male PWID released within the past 2 years from “06 centers” in Hanoi, Vietnam to investigate the above issues and to recommend potential interventions. Participants were recruited from outpatient HIV clinics that serve PWID (n=22) and through peer referral from self-help groups for PWID (n=21). Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, entered into Atlas. TI qualitative data analysis software and analyzed for key themes. Results The interviews revealed persistent drug-related stigmatization, frequently paired with HIV-related stigmatization and discrimination, which hindered employment, increased participants’ social isolation and exacerbated their struggles with addiction. Families were participants’ primary source of financial, employment, and emotional support, but addiction-related family tensions also had negative psychological effects. Participants identified methadone maintenance treatment as an effective means of overcoming addiction, yet few could fully benefit from this treatment due to its limited availability. Conclusion Our study suggests that PWID released from “06 centers” would greatly benefit from the scale-up of community-based harm reduction measures that include addiction and HIV treatment, coupled with employment-support and family-centered mental health services.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“In their perception we are addicts”: Social vulnerabilities and sources of support for men released from drug treatment centers in Vietnam

Tomori¹,

Go²,

Tuan³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Drug Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It can be difficult to uncover what motivates governments to formulate policy, especially former communist states (Ha et al, 2010;Vuong et al, 2012). It has, however, been suggested that labelling specific drug policy issue security threats resulted in significant policy change that went against established drug policy norms.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Ordinance on Administrative Violations continues to categorise drug use as an administrative violation and, users are still frequently imprisoned in compulsory drug treatment centres (Vuong et al, 2012). The uniform and discriminatory attitudes of medical professionals in Vietnam and abusive police practices represent additional barriers.…”

Section: Harm Reduction In Vietnammentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Thailand and Vietnam, possession and consumption of illicit drugs can result in arrest and incarceration in compulsory treatment centres (Pearshouse, 2009;Vuong et al, 2012). In 2010, approximately 102,291 people were incarcerated in 98 compulsory treatment centres in Thailand (ONCB, 2011); approximately 24,155 were incarcerated in 123 centres in Vietnam (UNODC, 2011).…”

Section: Compulsory Treatment Centresmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Security trumps drug control: How securitization explains drug policy paradoxes in Thailand and Vietnam

Windle

2016

Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper investigates the paradoxes inherent in Thai and Vietnamese drug policies. The two countries have much in common. Both are ultra-prohibitionist states which employ repressive policies to contain drug markets. Their policies have, however, diverged in two key areas: opium suppression and harm reduction. Thailand implemented an effective intervention to suppress opium farming centred upon alternative development, whereas Vietnam suppressed opium production through coercive negotiation with nominal alternative development. Vietnam has embraced elements of harm reduction, whereas Thailand has been slow to implement harm reduction policies. This paper hypothesises that these two differences are largely a product of their perceived relationship to security.The two cases demonstrate how once an issue is securitized the ultra-prohibitionist rules of the game can be broken to allow for more humane and pragmatic policies.

show abstract

HIV and Injecting Drug Users in Vietnam: An Overview of Policies and Responses

Ahmed¹,

Long²,

Huong³

et al. 2014

World Med & Health Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The HIV epidemic in Vietnam is fueled by injecting drug use. Since HIV emerged, because of a lawenforcement-focused drug policy and response, injecting drug users (IDUs) frequently experience drug detention and compulsory treatment. It has taken more than a decade to shift the focus from punitive to liberal policies. This overview presents a brief discussion on policies, responses, and experiences to identify implications. Related literature including government policies, peer-reviewed articles, and reports has been reviewed. The HIV epidemic in IDUs accelerated rapidly in an environment characterized by a lack in understanding and recognition of significance. There was limited leadership and weak direction to implement a countrywide response. Policies and responses gradually shifted to a harm reduction approach and recognized the need for harmonization, relating common features of drug and HIV. The review identifies that government leadership is crucial for supportive policies and long-term strategies. A multi-sectoral collaboration and continuous resource allocation with national priorities is essential to impact on the epidemic. In this review the context of these issues in policies and responses are highlighted and discussed, which gradually can lead towards the development of a substantial response for the drug use-driven HIV epidemic in Vietnam.

show abstract

Drug policy in Vietnam: A decade of change?

Cited by 47 publications

References 26 publications

“In their perception we are addicts”: Social vulnerabilities and sources of support for men released from drug treatment centers in Vietnam

“In their perception we are addicts”: Social vulnerabilities and sources of support for men released from drug treatment centers in Vietnam

Security trumps drug control: How securitization explains drug policy paradoxes in Thailand and Vietnam

HIV and Injecting Drug Users in Vietnam: An Overview of Policies and Responses

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About