The Chinese Narcotic Addict in the United States

From 1935 through 1964, more than 800 Chinese male narcotic addicts were admitted to the Lexington hospital. Of this group, 137 recent male admissions were selected for study. It was found that these Chinese addicts exemplified the sojourner way of life; but they were unsuccessful sojourners. Migrants to America in search of wealth, they were alienated from the dominant American culture. They lived in metropolitan Chinatowns, worked in laundries or restaurants, and were separated from their families. At the time of their current hospitalization for opiate addiction, these patients were an older group—3 years—with a long history of drug use. Evidence of the high incidence of opiate addiction among the Chinese-Americans during the first half of this century is considered. And the reasons why addiction within this minority group has virtually ceased by the 1960's are discussed.