Understanding Vietnam’s drug policy for amphetamine-type stimulants misuse

Abstract

Introduction The emergence of widespread amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) usage has created significant challenges for drug control and treatment policies in Southeast Asian countries. This study analyses the development of drug policies and examines current treatment program constraints in Vietnam to deal with ATS misuse. The aim was to gain insights that may be useful for national and international drug-related policy development and revision. Methods A desk review of national policy documents and 22 in-depth key informant interviews were conducted from 2019 to 2021. Thematic content analysis was employed to identify key themes and their connections. Results Analysis identified Vietnam’s 30-year history of developing policies and formulating strategies to reduce supply, demand, and harm from illicit drugs. With the increasing number of people who use ATS (PWUA), Vietnam has recently promoted harsh policy and law enforcement to deter drug use and supply. This policy trend prevails in many Asian countries. The three main constraints in dealing with ATS misuse emerged from punitive and restrictive drug policies. First, the general public believed that Centre-based compulsory treatment (CCT) is the only appropriate treatment for all types of illicit drug addiction despite its low-quality service provision. The rigid drug policy has led to social persuasion with impractical expectations for CCT effectiveness. Second, the emphasis on punishment and detention has hampered new drug treatment service development in Vietnam. CCT has become monopolistic in the context of impoverished services. Third, people who use drugs tend to hide their needs and avoid formal treatment and support services, resulting in declined social coherence. Conclusion While new drugs are constantly evolving, the current law enforcement approach potentially constrains expertise to adopt effective treatment services. This study suggests that the top-down policing mechanism presently hinders the development of an appropriate intervention strategy for ATS misuse and diminishes social support to service providers.

Interpol Review of Drug Analysis 2019-2022

“…2019 GC/MS method for fenethylline profiling of seized samples ; LC-QTOF-MS method for the simultaneous analysis of 111 amine-based compounds belonging to ergogenics, anorectics and other active components including phenethylamines (amphetamines, ephedrines), sibutramine or yohimbine [ 475 ]; excitation-emission matrix fluorescence combined with parallel factor analysis for quantitative analysis of the ATSs illegal drugs [ 476 ]; 2020 investigation of the efficiency and effectiveness of a gas-to-liquid (GTL) extraction system for the extraction of amphetamine-type substances and their precursors from the vapor phase [ 477 ]; LC-MS/MS method for detection of the presence of synthetic amines in dietary supplements [ 478 ]; enantioselective HPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of (R)-AMP, (S)-AMP, (R)-MA, (S)-MA, (1R,2R)-pseudoephedrine, (1S,2S)-pseudoephedrine, (1R,2S)-ephedrine, (1S,2R)-ephedrine, (1R,2S)-norephedrine, (1S,2R)-norephedrine, (R)-cathinone, (S)-cathinone, and (1S,2S)-norpseudoephedrine (cathine) [ 479 ]; 2021 review of MA and AMP detection and roadside testing [ 480 ]; determination of the variations in delta C-13 and delta N-15 values of nitrogen sources used in the clandestine production of ATSs using isotope ratio mass spectrometry [ 481 ]; electrochemiluminescence strategy for the screening of MA and AMP [ 482 ]; review of laboratory-based and portable methods for detection of ATSs [ 483 ]; review of the prevalence of ATSs in Iran [ 484 ]; SALDI-MS method for the analysis of ATSs, including MA, MDMA, MDEA, and 4-fluoromethamphetamine (4-FMA) [ 485 ]; ATS drug classification using a one-dimensional convolutional neural network model [ 486 ]; 2022 colorimetric assay for detection of ATSs in aqueous solution, spiked drinks, and ‘ecstasy’ tablets [ 487 ]; development and validation of a GC-MS method for identification and quantification of AMP, MA, MDA and MDMA [ 488 ]; development of drug screening kits for the detection of ATSs in drinks [ 489 ]; analysis of feature selection method for 3D molecular structure of ATS drugs [ 490 ]; study of the pharmacological properties of MDA analogues and two related amphetamine-based compounds (N,alpha-DEPEA and DPIA) detected in street drug samples or in sport supplements [ 491 ]; chiral analysis of AMP (n = 143), MDMA (n = 94), and MA (n = 528) in samples seized in southern Germany in 2019 and 2020 using different chromatographic methods [ 492 ]; comparison of different chiral selectors for the enantiomeric determination of amphetamine-type substances by SPE-CE-MS/MS [ 493 ]; ultrahigh performance LC-MS/MS (UPLC-MS/MS) method coupled with magnetic SPE (MSPE) for determination of ultra-trace ATSs [ 494 ]; desk review of Vietnamese national drug policy documents regarding ATSs and in-depth key informant interviews were conducted from 2019 to 2021 [ 495 …”