POPPIES,

PIPES,
and PEOPLE
POPPIES,
PIPES,
and PEOPLE
Opium and Its Use in Laos

Joseph Westermeyer
Foreword by Peter G. Bourne

University of California Press

Berkeley Los Angeles London
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California

University of California Press, Ltd.

London. England

Copyright © 1982 by The Regents of the University of California

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Westermeyer, Joseph.
Poppies, pipes, and people.

Includes bibliographical references.

1. Opium habit—Laos. 2. Opium trade—Laos.
I. Title
HV5816.W47 394.1 81-21995
ISBN 0 - 5 2 0 - 0 4 6 2 2 - 6 AACR2

Printed in the United States of America

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
To Rachel Moga Westermeyer, for her
Competence as sometimes solo parent
Consistent support and occasional patience
Adaptiveness to motorcycles, jeeps, and ancient aircraft
Courage through coup, flood, and war
Affection for Laos, its people, and their ways.