14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11130)

Dutta T, Mallick D
45 Beniatola Lane, Kolkata- 53, Kolkata, India

ISSUES: The complexity of drug use - choices, changing pattern and also psychodyanamics of users through out the world provides understanding of their psycho-social needs which induces particular drug use for a certain period of time.

DESCRIPTION: During our intervention programme both at grass root level of Central & North Kolkata as well as in our well-organised Recovery Hospital, we find among other Drug Users, IDUs reveal special features in their appearances and behaviours. They are fixated to their passive-narcissistic aim, and are solely interested in getting their gratification that is only through injecting. Interest in reality gradually disappear, thus they seem to be most sluggish and unhygienic, not at all aware of their appearances and health care. LESSONS LEARNT: Psychoanalytically such behaviour can be explained by the fact that the drug is taken by injection, the syringe seems to appear as a phallic symbol, the pleasure, nevertheless, is secured through the skin and is a passive receptive one.(Fenichel,1945). It is also corroborated with our findings that STD occurs more among non-injecting drug users(77%) than in Injecting drug users(23%). Their erotic and narcissistic satisfaction visibly coincide again. RECOMMENDATION: Psychoanalytically oriented counselling as well as improvement of external environmental conditions are necessary to ameliorate such behavioural disturbances.

020707
D11130

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.