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A Social Resource for Addicts in Laos

Joseph Westermeyer, MD, PhD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1974;31(2):237-240.

Abstract
The social functions of opium dens were studied by two methods. (1) Repeated visits were made to three opium dens. Data were collected on the physical structure of the den, the owner-proprietor, the customer-participants, the activities, and conversations in the dens. (2) Thirty-five addicts were selected to comprise a representative sample and were interviewed regarding their present locus of opium usage; demographic data were obtained from these addicts.

The article reports on several psychosocial functions that dens serve for certain opium users. The dens seem to serve urban society by providing a milieu within which certain people can meet needs that were served formerly in village society, but which are neglected in urban settings.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication March 8, 1974.

Reprint requests to the Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Box 393, Mayo Memorial Bldg, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (Dr. Westermeyer).

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

The Pro-Heroin Effects of Anti-Opium Laws in Asia
Westermeyer
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1976;33:1135-1139.
ABSTRACT