Behavioural Patterns of Drug Users In Highland

Sixty-four (84.2%) respondents had sexual intercourse with a member of the opposite sex in the six months prior to interview. Thirty-five (46.1%) had a steady partner. Only 3 of these respondents stated that they always used a condom while having sex with their steady partner. Most (32) claimed never to use condoms with their steady partner. Twenty-one injectors stated that their steady partner was also a drug injector and 2 that their partner had injected at some time in the past.

Thirty-four (53.1%) claimed to have had casual sexual partners in the previous six months. Of these 19 claimed to have had more than one casual sexual partner. The mean number of casual partners was 2.2. Of the 34 who had casual partners in the last six months, 9 stated that they always used a condom, 7 did so sometimes and 18 never used condoms with casual partners. Most (18) of those with casual partners did not know if any of these partners were injectors.

Only one respondent reported having a same-sex sexual relationship in the past six months. Of the seven same-sex partners reported, five were or had been injecting drug users. A commercial arrangement was made with two partners for sexual activity.

Two other respondents reported being engaged in commercial sexual activity in the six months prior to interview. One always used condoms with clients, the other reported never using them in the past six months.

In the previous two years, 20 injectors had had sexual intercourse with casual partners who resided outside the Highland Region area. Of these 20 injectors, 5 always used condoms, 4 sometimes did so, and 11 never used condoms with these partners.