DEVIANT SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AMONG ADDICTS

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30th National conference on Sexology, India 

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DEVIANT SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AMONG ADDICTS

Author: Sheetal Bidkar

Background:Most of the addicts are engaged in deviant sexual behaviour. Chronic and persistent substance use can induce the deviant sexual behaviours, which leads to marked distress, interpersonal relationships, & high risk sexual practices.

Aim: to assess the deviant sexual behaviour among addicts & to understand the contributory factors of such behaviour.

Materials & methods: Semi structured interview of an addicttaking in-house treatment in de-addiction & rehabilitation centre at Hyderabad & case history verification with the regular partner of the same. Diagnosticcriteria according to ICD-10Mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance usefromF-10 to F-19 is been used as inclusion criteria to select the sample.

Result:Deviant sexual behaviour is common among the addicts. Most common is multiple sexual partners according to present study. Heavy substance use increases the risk of unhealthy sexual practices. There is a relationship between varied sexual behaviour &addiction. Addiction, stressful relationships, ill effects of addiction, sexual, social, economic deprivation, moral conflict, negative emotions, apathetic behaviour leads to deviant sexual behaviours like forced abstinence, Multi partner relationship, participation & watching pornography, lack of desire, obsessive self-gratification, exhibitionism. Age, sex, education, socio economic status, marital status, parenting issues, parents mental illness, increased mobility, peer interactions, lack of knowledge about disease of addiction, rigid attitudes, internet use, increased exposure, physical & psychological ill effects of addiction, strained relationships, financial difficulties, increased emotional imbalance are the major contributing factors for deviant sexual behaviours. In the present study, female subjects mostly in forced abstinence, self-gratification& watching pornography. Male subjects mostly in exhibitionism, Multi partner relationships, watching & participating in pornography. All the subjects are from 20 to 45 years age group. All the subjects are either married or having a regular sex partner. Sexual orientation of the subjects is bisexual &/or heterosexual. The severity of addiction appeared to be most significant predictor of developing deviant sexual behaviours.  

Conclusion:Clinicians need to assess the deviant sexual behaviour among addicts & psycho education about the high risk sexual practices should be a part of rehabilitation programs. The study indicates the need for careful assessment of personality in these individuals and emphasizes the need for further studies on larger sample.

Key Words:  deviant sexual behaviour, Substance Abuse, Alcohol dependence, Drug dependence. 

Sheetal Bidkar