Abstract:
This study has four specific objectives focused on: estimating the prevalence of addictive
substance use among persons 15-49 years, describing the socio-demographic and behavioral
correlates among current substance users, estimating the prevalence of injecting drug use
(IDU), and determining the prevalence of selected bio-markers of risk behavior among
substance users. The study consisted of two components. A community based survey of
2500 persons between 15-49 years, selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling
procedure. In the second component respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to identify
250 current drug users and to estimate their characteristics especially injecting drug use. The
study demonstrates that most start with smoking, go on to alcohol use and. then on to abuse
of other illicit substances. Risk factors for other substance use were age over 35 years, male
and married, urban dweller, predominantly Sinhalese and Buddhist, education level below
G.C.E A/L, elementary employment with monthly income below Rs. 10,000.00. The study
identifies alcohol abuse as a problem needing urgent attention and the community of drug
users as a group who should be included in routine behavioral surveillance.
