HARCP Archives

Browse by article

Browse by volume

Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2025, 27, 10

Sexual Dysfunction and its associated factors among male heroin addicts; Evidence from a large cross-sectional study in Sri Lanka

Nuwan Darshana, Champa Wijesinghe, and Vijitha De Silva

Digital Object Identifier:
https://doi.org/10.62401/2531-4122-2025-10

Summary: Background: Sexual dysfunction may manifest as the inability or unwillingness to enjoy sexual activity. Substance use behaviour has been identified as a significant risk factor for sexual dysfunction, with addiction to heroin posing an even greater risk, according to the literature. This study was conducted to assess sexual dysfunction and its associated factors among male institutionalised heroin addicts in Sri Lanka. Methods: Sexual dysfunction was evaluated in a cross-sectional study conducted in Sri Lanka that examined the patterns, correlates, and adverse consequences of drug use behaviour among a sample of 391 institutionalised heroin addicts. Participants were drawn from five drug rehabilitation centres, representing a cross-section of the country. The experience of sexual dysfunction following the initiation of heroin use was assessed through a series of clinical interviews. Multiple logistic regression was employed to identify associated factors for sexual dysfunction at a significance level of 0. 05. Results: Nearly 83% of the sample was sexually active. Among the sexually active heroin addicts, 33. 3% had experienced at least one type of sexual dysfunction following heroin addiction: Desire disorders (23. 8%), Arousal disorders (9. 9%), Orgasm disorders (28. 7%), and Pain disorders (18. 2%). In the older age group (p=0. 013), being married (p< 0. 001) and being bisexual (p=0. 008) posed a higher risk for sexual dysfunction among heroin addicts. At the same time, no drug use behaviour-related factors emerged as risk factors for sexual dysfunction among them in the univariate analysis. However, only being married (OR=5. 24 with 95% CI of 3. 03 - 9. 08, p< 0. 001) remained statistically significant in the multivariate analysis after controlling for confounding effects. Conclusions: A considerable proportion of institutionalised heroin addicts in Sri Lanka reported sexual dysfunction, irrespective of drug use behaviour-related characteristics. Proper awareness and targeted interventions will be required for harm reduction to address the issue of sexual dysfunctions among them.

Keywords: Heroin Addicts; Sexual Dysfunction; Associated Factors; Males