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Patterns of substance use in male incarcerated drug users in Sri Lanka.
- Source :
-
Drug & Alcohol Review . Nov2009, Vol. 28 Issue 6, p600-607. 8p. 5 Charts. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Introduction and Aims. The number of illicit drug users incarcerated in Sri Lanka has been growing over the last decade. This paper presents drug-use characteristics and risk-taking behaviours among a group of male incarcerated drug users. Design and Methods. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was completed by 278 drug users in three prisons in Sri Lanka. Results. The majority (81.3%) of interviewees were aged 25–45 years. Most of them had received low levels of education, and experienced childhood delinquency and a deprived upbringing. Drug use was largely initiated during early adolescence, then continued to chronicity and the development of drug dependence. There was a high incidence (25–35%) of family history of drug abuse. Heroin (98%) and cannabis (54%) were the main drugs of abuse in the past 30 days. Polydrug use was common (75% in the past 12 months). Tobacco and alcohol use were widespread. The prevalence of intravenous drug use was higher than officially reported (15.8% vs. 1%). There was a high prevalence (53%) of risk-taking sexual behaviour. Discussion and Conclusion. The pattern of drug use was similar to those reported in nearby countries. However, the increasing prevalence of injecting drug use and risk-taking sexual behaviour is a concern. There is an urgent need to develop effective treatment strategies and to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis in Sri Lanka.[Dissabandara LO, Dias SR, Dodd PR, Stadlin A. Patterns of substance use in male incarcerated drug users in Sri Lanka. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *DRUG abusers
*IMPRISONMENT
*INTRAVENOUS drug abuse
*PRISONERS
*DRUGS of abuse
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09595236
- Volume :
- 28
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Drug & Alcohol Review
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 51399131
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-3362.2009.00062.x