A study has shown that young people are at risk of sexual drug use in Nepal. A first-time study on drug users and sexual intercourse among drug users revealed that 9.20 percent were using sexual drugs.
Most of them are young people in the age group of 18 to 29 years. Blue Diamond Society and Recovering Nepal studied 402 people in 14 districts about the use of drugs for sexual relations between drug users and third sex. The
study included Morang, Sunsari and Jhapa from Koshi Province, Parsa and Dhanusha from Madhesh Province, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur from Bagmati Province, Kaski from Gandaki Province, Banke and Rupandehi from Lumbini Province, Surkhet from Karnali Province and Kailali from Sudurpaschim Province.
Researcher Prabhuraj Paudel said that the study was conducted with the aim of getting information about the drugs used sexually among people related to HIV. 83 percent of those involved in the use of sexual drugs said they used condoms, while 16 percent said they never used condoms. Officials say this increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and other health-related problems.
He said that this is the first study on 'sexualized drug use' in Nepal and it will have a big impact on policy making.
Director of the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Center under the Ministry of Health and Population. Sarvesh Sharma said that sexualized drug use among drug users and transgender youth is a challenge. He clarified that the main problem is how to reduce sexualized drug users in the future.
Director Sharma said that this is the first study in Nepal about 'sexualized drug use' and it is necessary to carry it forward more effectively. He pointed out that even the international community needs to be informed about the study and its results in Nepal.
