Significant changes in preference of illicit drug use in a population of Hanoi, Vietnam-A 6-year wastewater study (2018-2023).
Addiction (Abingdon, England) July 23, 2025 Tran Thi Thanh Hue, Hieu K T Ngo, Zhe Wang et al. 2 citations
Methamphetamine use in Hanoi, Vietnam, declined significantly from a peak of 359.2 to 125.6 mg/day/1000 people between 2018 and 2023, while ketamine use rose from 149.7 to 465.9 mg/day/1000 people, becoming the most commonly used illicit drug. Cocaine and heroin remained low, and MDMA was stable. After COVID-19 restrictions eased, cocaine and codeine consumption showed statistically significant declines, whereas ketamine and heroin increased slightly but not significantly. Wastewater analysis of a canal serving over 430,000 people reveals a dynamic drug market shifting toward synthetic substances, with ketamine overtaking methamphetamine as the most used drug by end of 2022.