title: Patterns of substance use in male incarcerated drug users in Sri Lanka.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: Lakal O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Dissabandara
authors.forename: Shavindra R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Alfreda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stadlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult