Research Paper on Prescribed Drugs Used by Military Service Members During Vietnam War

Introduction

Historically, Vietnam War was a battle in South East Asia fought for about 20 years. From 1955 to 1975, the North Vietnam state and South Vietnam state were involved in conflicts (Liam 89). The communist states such as U.S.S.R and China supported the government of North Vietnam while the capitalist nations led by the United States supported South Vietnam. The war was costly in terms of human and capital resources which contributed to the withdrawal of American armed forces in 1973. Vietnam War led to the unification of North and South Vietnam under the leadership of communist regime. This research paper discusses the use and impact of prescribed drugs by the military service members and the role of the government in the usage of the drugs during the Vietnam War.

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Vietnam War episodes caused emotional and psychological trauma to the military personnel during and after the war (Lugevall 654). The distress and frustrations arose from various internal and external factors. Military persons spent a long period away from their immediate families and close friends hence suffered from loneliness and human isolation. They witnessed the death of fellow soldiers and civilians. Furthermore, the service members suffered severe injuries during combat. The horrifying war environment changed the officials' physique and psychological make-ups. They attempted to cope with the situation in varied ways. The use of alcohol and drugs was a common form of self-medication by the service persons (Lugevall 543).

The United States Drug Use Policy

Historians term the Vietnam War as a pharmacological war due to the widespread use of psychoactive drugs by the service members. The soldiers acquired the drugs and substances through dubious tactics or official procedures. The drugs were administered by the U.S. military medical department to the combats in lengthy missions (Campbell 273). The U.S government operates zero-tolerance policy on drug usage by the members of the armed forces. It remains paradoxical that the government illegalizes the drugs to the public and at the same arena permits the military department to distribute the intoxicants to the service persons. The duplication of the legal system provisions calls for reforms in the military statutes. The Department of Defense recognized the adverse effects of drugs and substance abuse to the users and the other comrades in arms. During the Vietnam War, the U.S government encouraged the military personnel to use drugs reasonably to improve war operations. The military administration conducted thorough monitoring and supervision of the use of prescribed drugs (Campbell 267). Soldiers were trained and educated on the harmful aspects of drugs and alcohol. The military department organized guidance and counseling sessions for the active soldiers. Furthermore, the military department conducted rigorous tests on the soldiers to determine the use of the drugs among them (Ymbra 67). The soldiers detected to be drug addicts were treated and in case of severe addiction, they were summarily dismissed. Drugs impair judgment which is risky to the individual military and the whole military unit. Furthermore, the soldiers are expected to operate sophisticated weapons which demand accurate and effective management.

Prescribed Drugs During Vietnam War

According to research by the U.S National Institute on Drug Abuse, the utilization of illegal and prescribed drugs by the service members is lower than among the civilians' usage (Campbell 265). Military officials used illegal medications and prescribed drugs during Vietnam War. The use of drugs and alcohol was prevalent in the military camps (Ymbra 130). The taking of the drugs and substances was at times unofficial, and at other times, it was a deliberate government policy through the Department of Defense. The military prescribed drugs included amphetamines, barbiturates, oxycodone, fenethylline, and modafinil.

Soldiers deployed in Vietnam used a variety of drugs such as stimulants, analgesics, hallucinogens, and intoxicants. The U.S air-force and other military departments encouraged the use of amphetamines by the flight pilots and attendants in order for them to endure during the long flights and critical war situations. The drug was attributed to arouse aggression and improved alertness. Research indicates that 3.2% of the military personnel deployed in Vietnam were heavy addicts of amphetamines (Campbell 154). During Vietnam War, the military officials utilized fenethylline to promote wakefulness during lengthy military operations. Modafinil is a memory and mood improvement stimulant that enhances lengthy wakefulness (Henderson 54). The soldiers in Vietnam referred the drug as"super drug" and "wonder drug."Modafinil was used to suppress fatigue and thereby enhance performance during the war operations (Ymbra 86). The prescribed medications were highly abused and misused though they had been prescribed to use a certain amount. The service members mostly used opium and heroin to enable them to bear the challenges got from that war environment. These drugs also lowered fatigue, reduced pain, and gave them the courage to face the war (Morden, Oster and O'Brien 4)). Military officials misused and abused illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and morphine (Lugevall 231). Research indicates that millions of pep pills were discharged to the soldiers during the Vietnam War (Ymbra 79).

The increased utilization of the drugs was attributed to numerous factors. The military traditions of use of drugs dictated the rampant misuse and abuse of the drugs. The horrifying war events caused brain disorders among the military officials who turned to drugs and alcohol. Regular use of the substances led to drug misuse and abuse. Professional research indicates that active soldiers and reserve military officials suffered from mental health disorders (Campbell 231). The soldiers also used the substances to enhance war morale by, reducing fatigue shortening sleeping duration and suppressing empathy. The drugs were also aimed at enhancing brain functioning through brain nerves development and memory improvement.

Causes of Drug and Substance Abuse During Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, the soldiers misused and abused the prescribed drugs due to various reasons. First, the accessibility and availability of the drugs implied easy access to the drugs by the service persons (Campbell 45). The drugs and substances were easily available at minimum cost caused by the Vietnamese drugs smugglers. The drug dealers made huge profits from drug trafficking. Secondly, the prescription of stimulants by the military physicians contributed to the widespread concept of the drug phenomena that had adverse consequences to the addicts. The substances were increasingly prescribed by the military medical personnel particularly the painkillers. The soldiers became addicts to medications used after injuries and wounds (Liam 87). The continuous use of opioid pain drugs administered in case of injuries led to addiction.

Thirdly, drug use in America was strictly controlled by the provisions of the constitution. The provisions of the American Constitution restricted the use of drugs. As such, the soldiers had an opportune time to experiment with the drugs in the war fronts. Finally, the demoralization of the armed forces as a result of disenchantment with the Vietnam War made some militants turn to drugs.

According to socio-linguist Lukasz Kamienski,"drugs shaped warfare, while warfare shaped the society often by spreading and popularizing intoxicants (Ymbra 90)." Psychoactive drugs were used during the Vietnam War to enhance the morale of the fighters (Campbell 67). The substances were issued to increase the battle psyche of the soldiers hence temporary reduce the harmful nature of war missions (Henderson 136). In order to enhance the mental functioning of the soldiers, the military department employed the use of specific prescribed drugs such as sedatives and neuroleptics. Antipsychotics like chlorpromazine were also given to these service members to minimize the number of psychological breakdowns within the shortest time possible.

Drug and substance use was aimed at enhancing performance army effectiveness. The Department of Defense aimed at empowering the soldiers in the war fronts. The role and functions of military medical personnel and assistants availed prolonged use of prescribed drugs and substances during Vietnam War (Lugevall 22). The enormous use of psychopharmacology led to reduced combat stress. Research highlights that the number of cases of mental disorders decreased as compared to the cases during Second World War and the Korean War, Alcohol and cigarettes use, and misuse was rampant during the Vietnam War (Ymbra 87). The service members casually used alcohol and drugs which finally led to addiction. Research highlights that heavy and binge drinking was rampant among the combats. Young soldiers in their twenties are reported to have misused the drugs more than the older militants. The smoking and drinking rates were high among the soldiers exposed to combat missions.

Vietnam Post War Trauma

According to sociologist Charles Tilly, "war made the state, and the state made war" (Ymbra 87). Drugs and substance use was not a long-term solution to the challenges facing the soldiers during Vietnam War missions (Campbell 98). The psycho-addictive and narcotics presented short-term relief to the military personnel. Medications self- administered without proper medical analysis and authorization tend to treat the symptoms, and temporarily suppress the long-term effects that are deeply rooted in the soldiers' psyche (Kuzmarov 86). The soldiers suffered tremendously as the intoxicants failed to treat the effects of war trauma and stress. They suffered after re-entry to America where they faced societal ridicule and discrimination. Nevertheless, according to professional research findings, there were few medical evacuation cases as compared to Second World War and the Korean War

The armed forces developed postwar trauma and addiction as a result of improper use of drugs and pharmaceuticals (Henderson 232). Research findings indicate that after the end of the Vietnam War, half a million soldiers suffered from post-war trauma. According to research conducted in 1990 by the U.S National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study, about 15% of the service persons during the Vietnam War faced post-war psychological trauma (Campbell 68). The war effects re-occur later in the service members' lives and physically and psychologically haunt the war veterans causing disastrous personal and social effects. There are many health institutions which assist in the specialized treatment options of the veteran drug addicts. Veteran addicts are treated applying different programs taking into consideration of the type of drug misused and abused. The programs enable the victims to find appropriate diagnosis health institutions.

Research findings indicate that 95% of the Vietnamese War narcotics addicts have not been re-addicted (Liam 56). Cases of psychological and narcotic addiction are rare. All the same, obtaining full time and contract employment has been difficult for the ex-soldiers discharged on the grounds of drug and substance abuse.

U.S Government Policy on Drugs use During Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was one of the historical events that deepened U.S politics. The U.S government had noted as early as 1971 the expansive drug addiction by the soldiers deployed in Vietnam (Henderson 124). The Congress sent representatives to study the ground situation in Vietnam. The delegation was led by two Congressmen, Robert Steele of Connecticut and Morgan Murphy from Illinois (Campbell 76). The delegates report highlighted tha...