1965+1973+Syarra

Drug Abuse By Soldiers During Vietnam Reading Assignment Syarra Hughes Feb. 11 - Feb. 26.

The Vietnam War had many affects on the soldiers, some including extreme drug abuse and alcohol use when they were in war and when they returned home. The Vietnam soldiers began using the drug heroin. They beleived the heroin would help them in the war. Whenever the leaders found out about the heroin, they were worried. They used a military discipline called amnesty. Some of the soldiers had amnesty and other rehab to help them out of the addiction. The United Stares were trying to negotiate settlement of the war. The military forces were rapidly decresing, and the military leaders were worried.

Because of the addiction, about 1000 men were sent back home from the war each day. Concerened about the addiction, President Richard M. Nixon charged his staff, wanting responses and answers to his problem. Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe reccomended a change in policies. The plan included drug tests, and rehab for the soldiers. President Nixon went along with the plan. There was no way to know if the new plan was going to effect the war any. In June of 1971, President Nixon announced the plan 'Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention.' This plan was going to allow doctors to look up record on some of the addicted soldiers to help with some of the treatment.

Around 1970, half of the enlisted men had some type of experience with illicit drugs. About 30% of the men had used and other drug besides marijuana. Volunteers made up about 40% of the enlisted men. Most of those men, however, were high-school dropouts. The drug abuse started almost as soon as the forces got to Vietnam. The older men used less drugs than the younger men. The younger men were ruining their health by using the drugs. Othere problems in the war were alcohol use. These soldiers had more problems, because sometimes in training, they would be drunk. Most of the soldiers who used drugs were discharged. Though the military forces declined rapidly, the military still carried out war.

Nice job. 94-CP