title: Lee Robins' studies of heroin use among US Vietnam veterans.
abstract: The work of Robins and her colleagues on heroin addiction among Vietnam veterans sets out in microcosm many of the key factors that play out in the development and maintenance of substance addiction beyond the pharmacology of the drug: price, availability, the process of delivery of the addictive substance, availability of other substances, social norms, education and life circumstances. Robins' studies found high rates of heroin use (34%) and symptoms of heroin dependence (20%) among US soldiers while serving in Vietnam. In the first year after returning to the United States only 1% became re-addicted to heroin, although 10% tried the drug after their return. Like other seminal studies, this work needs to be read in the original, because relying upon secondary interpretations risks being given a selectively edited version of their findings in service of varied policy and theoretical agendas.
authors.affiliation: National Addiction Centre, King's College London, London, UK.|The Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8957-6003
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weier
mesh_terms: D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047829:Vietnam Conflict
keywords: Addiction; Robins; Vietnam; heroin; policy; relapse