RESUMEN
Background: Illicit drug use has become a significant public health problem in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted to assess characteristics and exposure to vulnerable factors for drug use among institutionalized male drug users. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 431 institutionalized male drug users from five selected rehabilitation centers in Sri Lanka. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The history of exposure to vulnerable factors was assessed using a series of questions based on existing evidence. Chi-square test was used to identify factors associated with exposure to vulnerable factors for drug use at 0.05 significance level. Results: Experimental usage, peer pressure, being unaware about harmful outcomes of drug use, ability to conceal drug use behavior from family, easy accessibility, previous use of alcohol and tobacco, history of exposure to psychoactive substance use within the usual living set up, being in a family with inadequate protection and an unsatisfactory parenting status were identified as common characteristics of people with illicit drug use disorders and drug use behavior. The age of the first drug use was positively correlated with the age of the first alcohol use (r = 0.687; P < 0.01) and first smoking (r = 0.732; P < 0.01). Ethnicity, area of residence, severity of drug use, and age of initiation of drug use had statistically significant association with exposure to vulnerable factors for drug use (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Characteristics of people with illicit drug use disorders and drug use behavior were varied while the history of exposure to vulnerable factors for drug use was not uncommon in the sample. The study recommends considering these study findings during designing appropriate preventive and harm reduction strategies for illicit drug use.
RESUMEN
Scientific information is vital to the conservation of cetaceans and the management of whale-watching activities. The southern coastal waters of Sri Lanka are near a narrow continental shelf and biologically abundant in cetacean species. Although the occurrence of cetaceans has been investigated in certain waters of Sri Lanka, few surveys have been conducted along the southern coast. To fill this gap, we conducted boat-based surveys from January to May 2017 to investigate the occurrence, diversity, and behavior of cetaceans in the waters off Mirissa, covering a survey area of 788.9 km2 . During 55 survey days, we recorded a total of 242 cetacean sightings and identified at least 9 species (3 mysticetes and 6 odontocetes). The blue whale was the most common mysticete species (167 of 174 mysticete encounters), followed by the Omura's whale (4 of 174) and Bryde's whale (3 of 174). The spinner dolphin was the most common odontocete species (28 of 68 odontocete encounters), followed by the sperm whale (18 of 68), common bottlenose dolphin (13 of 68), short-finned pilot whale (5 of 68), melon-headed whale (2 of 68), and killer whale. Blue whales and sperm whales exhibited a clear preference for outer shelf and high slope areas, and blue whales were observed feeding along these waters. The present study provides near-baseline information on cetacean occurrence and diversity in whale-watching waters off southern Sri Lanka, and highlights the urgent need for proper management strategies for whale-watching activities.
