Sains Malaysiana 42(12)(2013): 1819–1826

 

Sexual Behaviour among Male Methamphetamine and Heroin Dependents in

Selected Areas in Malaysia

(Tingkah- laku Seksual dalam Kalangan Lelaki Ketagihan Metamfetamin

dan Heroin di Beberapa Tempat di Malaysia)

 

 

MOHD FADZLI MOHAMAD ISA¹*, NG CHONG GUAN², RUSDI ABD RASHID¹, MOHD HUSSAIN HABIL¹, HATTA SIDI³, MAS AYU SAID⁴ & AHMAD HATIM SULAIMAN²

 

¹University Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, (UMCAS) 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

²Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

³Department of Psychiatry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Medical Centre

56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

⁴Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya,

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Received: 18 February 2012/Accepted:  21 June 2013

 

ABSTRACT

This study aims to describe the pattern of sexual behaviour among methamphetamine and heroin users. It describes the pattern of sexual behaviour based on aspects of sex such as desire, interest, drive and obsession in relation to the drug use. A cross-sectional study was carried out among attendees of drug rehabilitation programmes in Kota Kinabalu, Kota Bharu and Kuala Lumpur. All subjects were living in the community with satisfactory psychosocial functioning. This study was primarily based on a validated sexual behaviour self-rated questionnaire followed by face-to-face interview. A total of 227 subjects were included with 124 (54.6%) using methamphetamine while 103 (45.4%) using heroin. Majority (218; 96%) were heterosexuals with 104 (45.8%) reported having been involved in high risk sexual behaviour. More methamphetamine than heroin subjects agreed that their sexual thoughts, feelings and behaviours were often associated with the drug (p<0.05). Methamphetamine subjects agreed that the use of methamphetamine caused them to be more obsessed with sex and they found themselves to be preoccupied with sexual thoughts while being under the influence of the drug (p<0.05). Heroin subjects mainly reported on negative effects of the drug on their sexual behaviour. Methamphetamine subjects reported that the use of drug had positively affected their sexual interest and drive (p<0.05). Methamphetamine subjects were also 1.97 times more likely than heroin subjects to be involved in risky sexual behaviour. The results of this study can be utilized to improve the drug treatment and rehabilitation programme. Methamphetamine subjects were more likely than heroin subjects to be involved in risky sexual behaviour.

 

Keywords: Heroin; Malaysian community; methamphetamine; sexual behavior

 

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini adalah bertujuan untuk menghuraikan pola tingkah laku seksual dalam kalangan pesakit lelaki yang mengalami ketagihan metamfetamin dan heroin. Kajian menghuraikan aspek pola tingkah laku seksual berdasarkan kehendak seks dan obsesi dalam konteks penyalahgunaan dadah. Kajian hirisan lintang ini dijalankan dalam kalangan peserta program rehabilitasi dadah di Kota Kinabalu, Kota Bharu dan Kuala Lumpur. Semua subjek kajian tinggal dalam masyarakat dengan fungsi psikososial yang baik. Kajian ini adalah berdasarkan kepada keputusan soal selidik kelakuan seks nilai sendiri dan diikuti dengan sesi temu bual. Seramai 227 subjek telah mengambil bahagian dengan seramai 124 (54.6%) orang menyalahgunakan metamfetamin sementara 103 (45.4%) menyalahgunakan heroin. Majoriti daripada subjek (218; 96%) merupakan golongan heteroseksual dengan seramai 104 (45.8%) orang melaporkan yang mereka terlibat dalam aktiviti seksual yang berisiko tinggi. Lebih ramai subjek yang mengambil dadah metamfetamin berbanding heroin melaporkan bahawa pemikiran, perasaan dan tingkah laku seks mereka dipengaruhi oleh dadah (p<0.05). Subjek yang menyalahgunakan metamfetamin melaporkan bahawa mereka lebih obses tentang seks dan mendapati pemikiran mereka lebih cenderung memikirkan ke arah seks (p<0.05). Subjek yang menyalahgunakan heroin pula melaporkan kesan negatif dadah terhadap tingkah laku seksual. Subjek metamfetamin melaporkan penyalahgunaan dadah memberi kesan positif terhadap keinginan dan kemahuan seks mereka (p<0.05). Mereka yang menyalahgunakan metamfetamin berisiko sebanyak 1.97 kali berbanding penagih heroin untuk terlibat dalam aktiviti seks yang berisiko tinggi. Hasil keputusan kajian amat penting untuk digunakan sebagai usaha untuk perawatan pesakit yang menagih dadah dan dalam program rehabilitasi. Subjek yang menyalahgunakan metamfetamin terdedah kepada aktiviti seks yang berisiko tinggi.

 

Kata kunci: Heroin; komuniti Malaysia; metamfetamin; tingkah laku seksual

 

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*Corresponding author; email: loysz@yahoo.co.uk