Perspectives on addiction‐related problems in Vietnam

Abstract

The article provides an overview of key substance use and addictive behaviors in Vietnam, alongside the development of addiction science, drawing from a synthesis of literature and the authors' perspectives. Over the last two decades, the primary illicit drug of concern has shifted from heroin to methamphetamine and other psychoactive substances. Tobacco use has declined but remains widespread while alcohol consumption is high compared with other countries in the region with common binge drinking. Studies on behavioral addictions in Vietnam are limited. While the impacts of opioid addiction are well documented, reports on the societal impacts of methamphetamine use remain scarce. Public discourse has often framed substance use negatively, fueling stigmatization and supporting abstinence‐oriented policies. Vietnam's drug policy reflects a tension between abstinence‐focused and harm reduction approaches. The nationwide expansion of methadone treatment is a significant achievement. However, the country's responses to the new epidemic of methamphetamine and other psychoactive substances are still evolving. International cooperation has continued to play an important role in advancing research and surveillance as well as adapting evidence‐based interventions. There are promising signs that Vietnam will strengthen public awareness and expand workforce training and policy innovation to address the issue of substance use in the population.

INTRODUCTION

Vietnam, a Southeast Asian country located along major drug trafficking routes to global markets, is undergoing major changes in its addiction landscape [1, 2]. This article reviews the epidemiology, social impact, policies, treatment and prevention services and the development of addiction science related to illicit drugs, tobacco and alcohol in Vietnam. It draws on peer‐reviewed and grey literature, as well as our two decades of experience in addiction workforce development and research. The article concludes with perspectives on advancing addiction science and addressing substance use challenges.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

The availability of epidemiological data on substance use in Vietnam varies by substance types. Although data on tobacco and alcohol use are available for the general population, prevalence estimates for illicit drugs are limited to people who use substances. Nationally representative data on the health burden associated with substance use remains lacking.

Illicit drugs

As of February 2025, Vietnam recorded 388 136 individuals with illicit drug use, suspected illicit drug use or under post‐rehabilitation supervision—representing approximately 0.4% of the national population [3].

Over the past four decades, substance use in Vietnam has changed considerably with the drug of choice shifting from opium to heroin, then to methamphetamine and other psychoactive substances [4]. Opium, primarily cultivated domestically and in neighboring countries, was the most prevalent drug in the early 1990s. However, in 2012, opium use had fallen to 6.4%, whereas heroin use accounted for 65% to 85% among people who use illicit drugs (PWUD) [5]. The dominance of heroin also drove the HIV epidemic among people who inject drugs for over the two decades of 1990s and 2000s [6].

Heroin use has declined from 80.3% in 2014 to 40% in 2023 among PWUD [5]. In contrast, use of methamphetamine and other amphetamine‐type stimulants (ATS) in this population have surged, with ATS consumption increasing from 1.5% in 2001 to 6.5% in 2012, 40% in 2018 and reached 60% in 2023 [5]. Co‐use of heroin and methamphetamine is common. In Haiphong, methamphetamine use among people who inject heroin emerged approximately in 2005 and reached a high level by 2015, with approximately 50% reported concurrent use [7]. Among them, 6% to 8% used methamphetamine for >20 days per month [7]. Among people receiving methadone treatment in Hanoi, from 2018 to 2022, past 3‐month methamphetamine use rose from 44.6% to 64.7%, while positive drug screens increased from 5.9% to 14.9% [8]. Severity of methamphetamine use was positively associated with a longer history of lifetime heroin use [9]. Among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Southern Vietnam, past 3‐month ATS use was 48.4%, and 94.5% respondents scored at a medium or high risk in 2019 [10]. This transition from opioids to methamphetamine reflects broader trends in Southeast Asia [11]. Rising use of other substances like ketamine has also been observed, consistent with increased ketamine seizure in Vietnam [12, 13].

Although cannabis use is the most commonly used illicit drug in many countries [14], data on its use in Vietnam are scarce. A 2013 survey among 38 941 school children across five Asian countries, including 3331 from Vietnam, indicated a lifetime prevalence of 0.6% [15]. In a survey (2016–2017) among people who inject drugs in Hanoi, cannabis ranked as the third most commonly used substance, after opioids and methamphetamine [16]. Seizure of cannabis in Vietnam tripled in 2024, compared to 2023, marking the highest volume seized in recent years [13]. Among participants in the 2016 to 2017 survey, the mean age of first cannabis use was 26.6 ± 8.5, and 28.7% participants reported use in the past 90 days [16].

The predominance of methamphetamine and opioids in Vietnam differs drastically with substance use patterns in Latin America, where cannabis and cocaine are most common [17]. The frequent co‐use of these two substances in Vietnam also contrasts with India, where opioids are the major substance of choice and methamphetamine use is less prevalent [18].

Tobacco

Daily or occasional tobacco smoking among Vietnamese adults age 15 years and older has declined gradually, from 23.8% in 2010 to 20.8% in 2020 [19]. Male smoking rates remained high, 47.4% in 2010, 45.3% in 2015 and 43.7% in 2021, while female smoking rates stayed approximately 2% [19, 20]. Both the downward trend in smoking and the gender gap are consistent with patterns observed in other parts of the world such as India and Chile [17, 18].

Adolescent tobacco smoking rate remains low, but the recorded upward trend in e‐cigarette use is concerning. Overall, e‐cigarette use has risen significantly, from 0.2% in 2015 to 3.6% in 2020, and reached 7.3% among youth age 15 to 24 in 2020 [21]. A national survey indicated that 2.9% of adolescents age 13 to 15 years reported current tobacco use and 3.5% reported current e‐cigarette use, consistent with a study across eight Southeast Asian countries showing Vietnam had the lowest past‐month tobacco use in this age group [20, 22]. E‐cigarette use is more prevalent among males than females (4.3% vs. 2.8%), but this gender gap is much less pronounced compared to traditional tobacco use among adults (41.1% vs. 0.6%) [20], suggesting a shifting pattern in adolescent behavior.

Tobacco smoking is highly prevalent among people with other substance use disorders, including alcohol, heroin or methamphetamine. Among patients with opioid use disorder receiving methadone treatment, approximately 90% are current smokers, and 70% smoke regularly [23, 24]. Additionally, people who consume alcohol are more likely to smoke, and those who smoke are more likely to drink, indicating a bidirectional relationship [25, 26, 27]. This concurrent substance use is also prevalent among people living with HIV, a common comorbidity with substance abuse [28].

Alcohol

Alcohol use in Vietnam has increased significantly in the previous decades. Per capita consumption of pure alcohol in the past year among people age 15 years or older nearly doubled from 4.7 L to 8.3 L between 2010 and 2016 [29], while the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region average remained stable at 7.0 to 7.3 L [30]. This increase has led to higher prevalence of alcohol use disorder and dependence in Vietnam, compared with the regional average [29]. In 2015 to 2016, alcohol use prevalence was 75% to 77% among males and 17% to 23% among females [31, 32]. Heavy episodic drinking was widespread, reported by 39.3% of people who drink alcohol age 15 years and older—50.2% of males and 17.7% of females [29]. Binge drinking prevalence ranges from 32% to 35% among people who currently drink alcohol [31, 33]. Data on alcohol consumption is limited after 2020, when the Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol‐Related Harms came into effect, but new study using wastewater has reported a slight decrease in alcohol use in Hanoi in recent years [34].

In Vietnam, alcohol use is often framed as a way to assert masculinity and strengthen social relationships [35, 36, 37]. Older age groups are more likely to drink frequently, compared to those age 15 to 29 years [32]. Higher income is also associated with greater alcohol use, individuals in the upper‐average income group had over twice the odds of current drinking compared with the poorest group (adjusted OR = 2.29) [31]. Associations between rural residence and drinking prevalence or frequency were inconsistent [31, 32].

Prevalence estimates for smoking and alcohol use, compared with regional and global data were presented in Table 1.

TABLE 1.

Prevalence estimates of tobacco and alcohol use.

	Vietnam	Southeast Asia	Global
Prevalence of tobacco use
STEPs 2021 [38] WHO country profile [20]	Both sexes: 20.8% Male: 41.1% Female: 0.6%	Both sexes: 28.0% Male: 45.3% Female: 10.6%	Both sexes: 21.7% Male: 35.5% Female: 7.9%
GATS 2015 [38]	Both sexes: 22.5% Male: 45.3% Female: 1.1%	Both sexes: 32.3% Male: 50.2% Female: 14.2%	Both sexes: 23.9% Male: 38.4% Female: 9.3%
GATS 2010 [38]	Both sexes: 23.8% Male: 47.4% Female: 1.4%	Both sexes: 37.2% Male: 55.5% Female: 18.9%	Both sexes: 26.4% Male: 41.6% Female: 11.1%
Alcohol use a
APC consumption	Both sexes: 8.3 L Male: 14.5 L Female: 2.5 L	Both sexes: 3.8 L Male: 6.4 L Female: 1.2 L	Both sexes: 5.5 L Male: 8.7 L Female: 2.2 L
Current drinkers	Both sexes: 36.7% Male: 50.0% Female: 23.9%	Both sexes: 27.6% Male: 36.3% Female: 18.7%	Both sexes: 43.8% Male: 52.2% Female: 35.4%
APC among drinkers	Both sexes: 22.8 L Male: 29.1 L Female: 10.4 L	Both sexes: 14.0 L Male: 17.7 L Female: 6.7 L	Both sexes: 12.4 L Male: 16.6 L Female: 6.1 L
Heavy episodic drinking among drinkers	Both sexes: 39.3% Male: 50.2% Female: 17.7%	Both sexes: NA Male: 43.3% Female: 27.5%	Both sexes: 38% Male: 45.4% Female: 26.8%

Abbreviations: APC, Alcohol per capital; GATS, Global Adult Tobacco Survey; STEPs, STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance; WHO, World Health Organization.

^a Vietnam estimates in 2016 [29]; Southeast Asia and Global estimates in 2019 [39].

SOCIETAL IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE USE

Illicit drugs

The Renovation policy in Vietnam in 1986 marked the start of an open economy and international trade. During this period, heroin was introduced into Vietnam, replacing opium [40]. The number of people addicted to opioids tripled between 1994 and 2004, with the majority in working age, bringing about significant financial burden to households, causing emotional strain and social crisis [4]. Heroin injection and needle sharing practices have fueled the HIV endemic in Vietnam, with 60% of known HIV cases in early 2000s were people who inject heroin [4]. Compulsory drug rehabilitation, incarceration, stigma and discrimination toward PWUD also caused significant distress to these individuals and their families, leaving PWUD with little prospect to regain a conventional life post‐addiction [4, 41, 42, 43]. At the macro level, expenditures on drug control, HIV prevention and treatment, and lost labor exerted a great toll on the government [44].

Data on the health impact of methamphetamine use were limited among people who inject drugs. Among HIV‐positive individuals in this group, methamphetamine use was associated with unsuppressed viral load [45]. Yet, media portrayals linking methamphetamine use to psychosis and criminal behavior have fueled societal anxiety and justified strict law enforcement measures [46]. For instance, methadone patients testing positive with non‐opioid drugs (mostly methamphetamine) have been subjected to premature treatment termination [47]. National data on mortality or disability attributable to illicit drug use are unavailable.

Tobacco and alcohol

Tobacco consumption contributed to poverty and widened the inequality gap by increasing health burden, leading to greater health expenditures [48]. Smoking increased the poverty gap in 2018 from 2.2% to 2.3% [49]. The effect was more intense in rural areas and among ethnic minorities and more than one third of the impoverished group were children [49]. The total economic cost of smoking was equivalent to 1% of the 2011 gross domestic product, and 5.8% of the government healthcare budget in 2011 went into smoking‐related inpatient and outpatient care [50]. The productivity loss because of morbidity and mortality was also high, accounting for 49.5% the total costs of smoking [50]. In 2021, tobacco use was estimated to be the second leading risk factor for combined mortality and disability in Vietnam, accounting for approximately 100 300 deaths—23.8% of all deaths [51, 52].

Data on the social impact of alcohol use is limited. Alcohol consumption in Vietnam is higher than the global average and as alcohol use is known to associate with increased risk of violence [53], and it is expected that there is a potentially high burden of alcohol‐related violence in the country. In 2016, 12% of the deaths in Vietnam were attributable to alcohol [53]. Among women married to men who drink heavily, 32.5% reported experiencing some form of harms from their partners [54].

POLICY

Illicit drugs

Vietnam's drug policy is characterized by the uneasy co‐existence of abstinence‐focused and harm reduction approaches [46, 55]. With support from international agencies such as Ford Foundation, Family Health International, United States (US) Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in developing policy regulations and technical guidelines, the introduction and expansion of methadone treatment to address opioid addiction has been a remarkable success [56]. Within 3 years of the pilot program (2008–2010), methadone received strong political support, enabling rapid nationwide scale‐up and significantly reducing HIV incidence among people who inject drugs [57, 58]. However, the country's responses to the new epidemic of methamphetamine and other psychoactive substances are still evolving.

Vietnam's drug policy has gone through different phases, reflecting different levels of emphasis on harm reduction. Yet, abstinence has always been the only legitimate goal of addiction intervention [1, 46, 59] with strong measures such as internment of PWUD in compulsory drug rehabilitation centers [60].

Methadone treatment was introduced in the country in early 2000s as a strategy to address the intertwined HIV‐injection drug use pandemic, not to intervene with substance use disorders per se [56, 61]. With the rise of methamphetamine with no effective medication treatment, the government of Vietnam is increasingly anxious to identify effective strategies. A new drug law (effective from 2022) strengthens efforts of law enforcement agencies, on the one hand, and calls for improved community‐based services to monitor and rehabilitate people with substance use disorders, on the other [46]. On 27 November 2024, Vietnam's National Assembly approved the National Target Program on Drug Prevention and Control to the year 2030 to support effective implementation of this law [62, 63].

Vietnam's policy on illicit drugs has been abstinence‐focused with zero‐tolerance for illicit drug use [46, 55]. This mirrors approaches in several East and Southeast Asian countries, such as Cambodia, China, Laos or the Philippines, where stigma against PWUD remains pervasive [61, 64, 65]. By contrast, many Western European countries have adopted public health and harm reduction models, leading to better population health outcomes [65].

Tobacco and alcohol

Tobacco control and alcohol regulations in Vietnam are currently strict, but are not enforced consistently. In alignment with the WHO Framework on Convention for Tobacco Control [66], Vietnam's Law on Tobacco Harms Prevention ban smoking in public spaces, restrict advertising [67], and, since January 2025, prohibit the use and sales of e‐cigarettes [68]. The Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol‐Related Harms prohibits alcohol consumption in certain public places and enforce zero‐tolerance for blood alcohol concentration while operating vehicles with substantial fines for violations [69, 70]. Actual enforcement is, however, inconsistent, especially in rural settings where resources are limited [71].

ADDICTION PREVENTION AND CARE

Although the management of the addiction treatment system in Vietnam is divided between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Security, prevention efforts are managed by the Ministries of Public Security, Education, and Information and Communication. Figure 1 outlines the system of addiction prevention and care services.

FIGURE 1.

Addiction prevention and care services.

General addiction treatment system

Treatment for alcohol‐ and tobacco‐related disorders falls entirely under the health sector, where services are provided across all levels of the healthcare system, with varying scope and specialization. Most services focus on medication‐based treatment for opioid, alcohol and tobacco use disorders. Psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric departments within general hospitals typically offer detoxification services and substance‐induced disorders such as methamphetamine‐induced psychosis or alcohol withdrawal.

For opioid use disorder, outpatient methadone treatment clinics are available in all provinces and have been integrated into primary healthcare services in several rural and mountainous areas. As of 2024, there are 343 methadone clinics nationwide, serving approximately 50 000 individuals with opioid use disorder [72]. Buprenorphine treatment was piloted, but not scaled up, hindered by limited drug availability, increased provider workload from administrative and monitoring demands, diversion concerns and conflicts between the health and law enforcement systems [73]. Patients can be referred between methadone clinics and other health services, across different levels of care.

Rehabilitation centers, previously managed by the social affair sector, officially transferred to the oversight of the Ministry of Public Security since January 2025, provide both voluntary and compulsory addiction interventions [3]. Core components of these in‐patient programs include detoxification, educational sessions and vocational training [62]. As of January 2025, there were 97 rehabilitation centers serving more than 52 000 PWUD [3]. These rehabilitation centers were considered to be costly and ineffective [64] with a longitudinal study indicated a relapse rate of 85.6% within 12 months of release [74]. Although the number of such centers decreased substantially during 2010s, this number has risen in recent years because of the lack of effective out‐patient treatment options. In addition to state‐owned centers, private facilities exist in certain locations.

Despite the availability of these treatment options, overall treatment coverage is insufficient. National data in 2023 indicate that only approximately 55% of individuals with illicit substance use disorders received any form of treatment [75]. Specialized services for populations with specific needs—such as adolescents, women and the elderly—are limited or non‐existent. Furthermore, although most treatment facilities offer some form of counseling, comprehensive long‐term behavioral or psychological therapies are generally lacking.

Tobacco and alcohol use disorder treatment

Smoking cessation services are available in major hospitals and at commune‐level health stations. A free national Quitline, supported by the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund under the Ministry of Health, has operated over a decade [76]. Intervention options include medication‐assisted treatments (nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion or varenicline) and non‐pharmacological treatments such as acupuncture and emerging approaches using SMS and e‐health platforms [77, 78]. In contrast, services for alcohol use disorder remain limited, with pharmacological and behavioral treatments only available in psychiatric hospitals.

WORKFORCE TRAINING

Training on addiction‐related issues remains limited at the undergraduate level across both medical and social work fields, with no specialized academic program in addiction medicine. Methadone staff are required to complete a certification training course provided by the Ministry of Health before beginning service delivery, followed by periodic continuing education [79]. Similarly, rehabilitation center staff are trained by social work training agencies [80]. However, no standardized curriculum or quality control mechanism exists across systems. This lack of specialized addiction medicine education and the fragmented training in substance use disorders are common challenges worldwide, particularly in low‐and‐middle‐income countries [81]. In contrast, high‐income countries like Canada, the United States, the Netherlands or Australia have established formal training pathways in addiction medicine [81].

A recent needs assessment revealed a broad range of training needs among Vietnamese substance use and HIV service providers [82]. Priority areas included psychoactive substances, mental health screening and evidence‐based interventions such as motivational interviewing. Barriers to training included high workload, limited budget and minimal incentives to improve treatment quality [82]. These results highlight the need to professionalize the addiction treatment workforce to ensure quality care for PWUD.

SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION

Substance use prevention is a relatively new field in Vietnam. Educational campaigns targeting the general population are conducted irregularly including some prevention initiatives, which were carried out through mass media. Additionally, some secondary and high schools organize occasional awareness sessions to provide students with basic knowledge about substance use.

Several modules of the Universal Prevention Curriculum for Substance Abuse have been implemented in Vietnam, providing a foundation for capacity building and future pilot programs. Moving forward, Vietnam should consider developing targeted prevention programs that integrate training, brief intervention and referral to treatment—approaches that have been proven effective [17]. Such programs could focus on adolescents with heightened risk of developing substance use disorders, including children with parental drug use or homeless children [83, 84, 85, 86, 87].

ADDICTION SCIENCE

Addiction science in Vietnam has gradually evolved over the past two decades, largely shaped by government leadership, academic institutions and the growing participation of international collaborators. The field is anchored in government institutions such as the Ministry of Health, National Institute of Mental Health at Bach Mai Hospital, National Psychiatric Hospitals and universities including Hanoi Medical University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy. These organizations, bolstered by foreign‐funded initiatives and multilateral partnerships, have produced much of the country's foundational research on substance use disorders, especially within the broader agenda of HIV prevention and harm reduction.

Local research on opioid use is substantial, but has relied mainly on clinical case studies and small‐scale trials. Since the mid‐2000s, Vietnam's large methadone treatment network has provided the infrastructure for numerous clinical trials and cohort studies—often in collaboration with international partners—examining retention, adherence, HIV‐related outcomes and innovations to improve treatment effectiveness [61, 88]. This body of rigorously conducted research has helped introduce evidence‐based interventions into the national addiction treatment system. Several randomized and quasi‐experimental trials of smoking‐cessation interventions have also been completed [77, 89, 90].

Research on interventions for illicit drug use have been supported by agencies such as the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), WHO and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) [56, 91]. These international organizations have played a critical role in initiating, funding and evaluating evidence‐based interventions in Vietnam, particularly in illicit drug use. Peer‐outreach models and psychosocial support programs piloted alongside pharmacological treatment have further strengthened the evidence base for integrated care [92]. Beyond illicit drugs, WHO has also been pivotal in shaping policy development in the areas of tobacco and alcohol control.

Research on methamphetamine and other psychoactive substances is still in its early stage. Although several studies have recently emerged—examining clinic‐based interventions [88, 93] and peer‐led harm reduction approaches [94]—the scientific understanding of effective treatment for methamphetamine use disorder is still lacking. Additionally, research on poly‐substance use, which is increasingly common among younger users and urban populations, remains a noticeable gap [95].

Behavioral addictions, such as problematic gambling, internet addiction and emerging forms of digital dependency, are also underexplored [96, 97]. Although the public discourse around these issues is growing, systematic research and evidence‐based treatment models are limited. Local research on tobacco and alcohol use has primarily been epidemiological, with few intervention studies or behavioral trials.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION

Advancing addiction science will require strengthened international and regional collaboration. Partnerships with neighboring countries could help explore regional patterns of drug use, particularly the emergence and spread of new psychoactive substances. Cross‐country or multi‐site academic collaborations would also facilitate knowledge exchange, promote innovation and improve the methodological rigor of addiction research.

Key priorities include building research capacity, securing sustainable funding and fostering the next generation of Vietnamese addiction scientists. One of the key research topics is to identify ways to integrate screening and brief interventions of illicit drugs as well as tobacco and alcohol into existing health services, especially at primary care facilities. As Vietnam has started to revamp public health system with the goal of strengthening the capacity of primary care level, strategies for effective integration is important now more than ever. Other priority areas include poly‐substance use and scaling up evidence‐based interventions through the study of effective implementation strategies. In addition, digital health technologies to adapt and deliver interventions in local settings offer a promising avenue for expanding reach and impact.

Large‐scale, national surveys should be conducted at a regular basis to monitor drug use trends and inform public health strategies [17, 18]. Since 2015, a new surveillance approach, wastewater‐based epidemiology (WBE), has been applied in Vietnam to support addiction research [12, 98, 99]. WBE provides objective data in contexts where stigma against illicit drugs and substance use is high. WBE can also help assess the effectiveness of new policies for substance use [100]. For example, WBE tracked alcohol use in the population of Vietnam from 2018 to 2023, showing a decline linked to more stringent alcohol control measures by the Vietnam government [34]. Given its limitation in assessing individual use patterns, WBE can be integrated within a broader set of surveillance measures.

CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Illicit drug use in Vietnam has shifted from heroin to methamphetamine and other psychoactive substances, requiring new policy to adapt to the dynamic drug landscape. Tobacco smoking has slightly declined, but remains highly prevalent, imposing substantial cost on society. Stronger tobacco control may be needed to reduce the burden of smoking to society. Alcohol consumption continues to be widespread, although further data is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the recent legislation aiming at reducing the harmful impact of alcohol use. Data on behavioral addictions are largely absent, presenting opportunities for research in the Vietnamese context. Strengthening domestic research capacity with sustainable government funding is critical to ensure long‐term, contextually relevant surveillance and evaluation. Persistent knowledge gaps on alcohol use disorder, methamphetamine use and emerging behavioral addictions underscore the urgent need for greater international and regional collaboration, particularly in research, workforce development, policy innovation and the implementation of evidence‐based treatment strategies.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Nguyen Thu Trang: Methodology (equal); writing—original draft; writing—review and editing. Nguyen Bich Diep: Methodology (equal); writing—original draft; writing—review and editing. Phong K. Thai: Supervision (equal); writing—review and editing. Nguyen Cuu Duc: writing—review and editing. Le Minh Giang: Methodology (equal); writing—review and editing (equal); supervision (equal).

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

None.

Trang NT, Diep NB, Thai PK, Duc NC, Giang LM. Perspectives on addiction‐related problems in Vietnam. Addiction. 2026;121(2):448–457. 10.1111/add.70207

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.