Opium Use among the Hill Tribes of Thailand

Abstract

In certain hill tribal villages the authors conducted a study of opium use in correlation with health, economic, and sociocultural status. The reasons for and the circumstances surrounding opium use and addiction vary in different tribes. The use of opium as a drug for treatment of illnesses and as a psychotropic drug is commonly found in many hill tribes. Recreational and social uses of opium are not found to be as extensive as previously believed. Nevertheless, there are a number of contexts in which opium is socially used.