Sexuallifestyle,drughabitandsocio-demographicstatusofdrugaddicts in Bangladesh SK Nazrul Islam 1 *, Kazi Jahangir Hossain 1 and M Ahsan 2 1 Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, and 2 Department of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh The sexual life style, drug habit and socio-demographic status of 253 male hospitalized drug addicts were investigated. This study was conducted during the period June 1997 to July 1998, and each case was selected by the random sampling method. The research instrument was an interviewer-administered questionnaire, the sexual habits, number and quality of sex partners, use of condoms, sexually transmitted diseases, etc., were considered as indicators of the sexual life style of the drug addicts. Eighty-eight percent n  233) of the addicts were heterosexual. Bisexuality was found only in 7% n  18) of the addicts. Eighty-seven percent n  240) of the addicts have multiple sex partners of either commercial or residential category. Most of the drug addicts 72%, n  181) did not use condoms. Fifty-seven percent n  145) of the addicts were observed to have sexual diseases. As indicators of a drug habit, starting drug, choice of drug, period of addiction, sharing of needles, etc., were included. Cannabis was the starting substance for 59% n  149) of the addicts. Heroin was the drug of choice for 60% n  157) addicts. A single drug was taken only by 8% n  20) of the addicts and the remaining 92% n  233) took multiple drugs. The drug addicts n  97) who used mostly injection 87%, n  84) shared needles. Education, occupation, income, age, marital status, in¯uencing factors for addiction were considered as socio-demographic characteristics. Young adults 79%, n  199), secondary educated 46%, n  116), low ± mid income 60%, n  150), businessmen 46%, n  150) and married 60%, n  151) people were found highly involved in addiction. Self-curiosity and a friend's incitement were revealed as the most important in¯uencing factors for taking drugs. Public Health 2000) 114, 389±392. Keywords: sexual life style; drug habit; socio-demography; drug addicts Introduction As in the developing world, drug addiction is increasing in Bangladesh. 1 It has invaded every fabric of the community in both urban and rural life. 2 Crime, violence, poverty, malnutrition, sexual diseases, inadequate health care facilities, etc, are all problems in Bangladesh. In addition to in¯iction of these dif®culties, the entire society is now being af¯icted by the drug addiction problem. 1 Most of the drug addicts are young adults, and the number is increasing with time. 3,4 Moreover, the drug addicts are socially as well as religiously neglected. This has led them to a state of degeneration. Drug addiction severely affects all spheres of life. The sexual life of addicts is in a vulnerable state where risky sex behaviour is common. Most of the addicts usually have unprotected sex with multiple partners, which ultimately results in their suffering from sexually transmitted diseases, and even from HIV infection. 5 Multiple drug abuse is a common habit of the addicts. Cannabis gaza), morphine derivatives such as heroin diacetyl morphine), pethedine meperidine), tidigesic buprenorphine), codeine methyl- morphine), etc, are the most frequently used drugs=substances. 4 A small or insigni®cant amount of information may be obtained from government and non-government organiza- tions, but no scienti®c studies have, so far, been carried out on drug addiction in Bangladesh. There is not even a report on the prevalence of drug addiction. 1 However, it has been realized that drug addiction has been recognized and considered as one of the most damaging national health and social problems, therefore, it should be addressed imme- diately. Considering these facts, this present study has attempted to address the socio-demography, drug habits and sexual life style of drug addicts in Bangladesh. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out on 253 male hospitalized drug addicts, admitted into the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital, Tejgaon, Dhaka the only government hospital in Bangladesh) during the period of June 1997 to July 1998. The research instrument was an interviewer administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed and pre-tested among the drug addicts. Every case was selected randomly. The pre-tested subjects were excluded from the study. A written consent was taken from each addict and their privacy was maintained. This study did not involve any societal, mental or physical risk to the drug addicts. The questionnaire was designed to cover: socio-demo- graphic data, such as education, occupation, income, age, marital status, etc; habit of smoking and drinking of alcohol; factors in¯uencing addiction; drug habit, such as starting drug, choice of drug, route of administration, period of addiction, sharing of needle, etc; sexual life style, such as heterosexuality and homosexuality, number of sex partners, habit of using condoms, etc; and sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis and gonorrhoea. Data analyses were done using the SPSS software package. *Correspondence: SK Nazrul Islam, Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. E-mail: snislam@bangla.net; sislam@du.bangla.net Accepted 11 February 2000 Public Health 2000) 114, 389±392 ß R.I.P.H.H. 2000 www.nature.com/ph