Sex and Drugs in Southeast Asia Term Paper

Abstract

The ‘population of South Asia accounts for almost 60% of the world’s total population, therefore if the negative effects brought about by misuse of drugs and sexual abuse are not watched, then we will see a general major decline in the world’s overall population. The country is therefore being urged to combat the exclusion of commercial sex workers and Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) to reverse the surging trend of the vice. The term “sexual exploitation” takes several forms, it simply does not stop at pornography, or rape, bride trade, FGM, sexual harassment, incest, or even sex terrorism, but, includes all those acts which tend to dehumanize or commodifies bodies of either men or women. Any activity that is considered a violation of women’s rights particularly regarding sex is classified under sexual exploitation. Such acts are very much alive in South East Asia.

This vice, coupled with drug abuse has become not only an Asian affair but a Global concern. The two activities mentioned above are the major contributors to the escalating cases of the spread of the deadly HIV…the foreign men’s involvement is not making things any easier for the “STOP AIDS ” advocates in Southern Asia. This essay paper will highlight the reported effects of the menace in South Asia as well as its diverse impacts on the rest of the world and the necessary steps that can be taken to reverse the upsurge.

The State of the Matter

The World Health Organization (WHO: Vol, 79, 2008) report has it that, the situation of the HIV/AIDS is worrying. The epidemic is gaining ground and spreading at an alarming rate, thanks to the sex workers and the IDUs. The idea by the commercial sex workers to engage in sex without using condoms or oral sex is a major huddle in the fight against the menace. It is an open secret to say that the foreign sex industries have been implicated in the HIV spread and that the Effect of Western Dominance, Masculine Oppression, Female Subordination, and Male Power in Southeast Asia are marginalizing the voices of the sex workers. These women, due to their low bargaining power, are therefore not able to fight for their rights and will only go for whatever has been demanded of them (Lisa Law, 2000, Pg. 1).

Alcohol and other substance abuse can take numerous forms among which are: – Miss use of legal products (for example alcohol and medication), use of illegal drugs (for example bang-marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and so on). Smoking, because its ability to lead to addiction has been classified under drug abuse. In Asia as well as the rest of the world, millions of people are injecting drug users (IDUs) and blood transfer through sharing of infected needles is a major ingredient in the spread of the deadly virus (Open Society Institute, 2004, July). Because the act is illegal, few or none of the IDUs will seek treatment in hospitals making them more vulnerable to HIV and its effects, this alone is scary without mentioning the role that their crossover with the prostitutes plays in the spread.

Apart from the IDUs, those who smoke (crack and Cigarettes) stand high chances of exposing themselves to HIV/AIDS. The burns, cuts, and blisters that they suffer from on their lips while smoking due to the intense heat from the vaporizing smoke create open wounds that end up contaminating the stem of the metal pipe, which in turn is passed to the next smoker. If either of the persons happens to have sores or wounds on his lips on top of being HIV +ve, then that would just do it…he will comfortably get the deadly virus (McCoy C.B. et al, 2004).

Reasons for Abuse

Several reasons have been put forward to be behind the use of drug abuse. Drugs include both legal and illegal ones and the reasons differ from person to person and from drug to drug. Some drugs bring upon to their users that feeling of euphoria and detachment, relaxation, or the energy-inducing property; that is what the consumers (abusers) may like from such drugs. To some, they say drugs make them more alert and sensitive…and that they can not do without a single dosage. Peer pressure is another contributing factor (The NSDUH Report, 2007).

Probable Measures to prevent it

Even after declaring commercial sex and drug abuse illegal, very little has changed to reverse the trend, efforts to minimize people with such practices are failing and the spread rate in most countries has remained stable. In the (WHO Report, 2004), one Dr. Neff Walker (an epidemiologist with UNAIDS) was quoted saying that since this group of individuals (IDUs) can not be convinced to stop overnight, ” we have to learn how to build bridges and let this population access HIV prevention drug…”. At some rate the efforts to fight the epidemic have borne some fruits, for instance in August, the UNAIDS researchers indicated that the prevalence has subsided, the reasons being the Asians Social Norm that prohibits women from engaging in neither premarital sex nor extramarital sex.

Countries, not only in the Asian region but all over the world need to go the Thailand and Cambodian way. The two countries implemented the 100% condom policy in the whole sex industry and complete declaration of prostitution to be illegal (WHO Report, 2008). Further implementation of the HIV prevention program targeting injecting drug uses has to be put in place. The IDUs should be provided with sterilized needles for their safe injection. Active awareness programs should target to enlighten or educate the IDUs on the dangers that sharing of needles exposes them to.

Treatment for substance abuse ranges from detoxification, simple medication up to psychotherapy. The major problem that drug abuse (injectors) and unsafe sex practices cause is the spread of HIV AIDS and unwanted pregnancy/children. With the promotion of condom use, minimize the visits to brothels, and availability of Anti-retroviral Drugs every country will go a long way in the successful fight against the vice (Mathers, B.M. et al, 2008).

Conclusion

The fight has recent faced a new challenge which is threatening to render the prevention efforts useless. Latest reports indicate that the spread has gone beyond the traditional borders into the suburbs and highways. That is why it now calls for Global Policy Challenge to tackle the issue as a worldly common problem. IDUs on their own is a risky group; the situation gets worse and more complicated when they overlap between drug addiction and prostitution. Those who fall in both categories, are double stigmatized and equally have doubled their chances of contracting HIV. The line between IDUs and sex workers is very thin and it’s very hard to pinpoint one from the other since they have several factors common to both to them; for example, unstable families, homelessness, disrupted schooling, and socio-economic challenges among others (Tiggey & Gillian 2006). To sum up, I would like to add that stigma and discrimination should be put to a halt if in any case, we want to see the campaign programs achieve their objectives.

References

1. Lisa Law: “Sex Work in Southeast Asia: The Place of Desire in a Time of AIDS. Contributors: Routledge, London. Publication Year: 2000. Pg 1.
2. Mathers, B.M. et al, (2008): “Global epidemiology of injecting drug use and HIV among people who inject drugs: a systematic review”: The Lancet,2008. Pg 134-188.
3. McCoy C.B. et al (2004), ‘Injection Drug Use and Crack Cocaine Smoking: Independent and Dual Risk Behaviors for HIV Infection’, Annals of Epidemiology 14(8)
4. Open Society Institute (2004), ‘Breaking Down Barriers: Lessons on Providing HIV Treatment to Injection Drug Users’
5. Sheila Davey, Geneva, Switzerland…”Bulletin of the World Health Organization”: Vol: 79, No?10: Genebra 2001….2008 Report.
6. The NSDUH Report: “Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2007), ‘Demographic and Geographic Variations in Injection Drug Use.
7. Tiggey May and Gillian Hunter (2006), “Sex work and problem drug use in the UK: the links, problems and possible solutions’ in Sex Work Now”, Editors-Rosie Campbell and Maggie O’Neill: Publisher-Willan.
8. World Health Organization and UNAIDS (2004), ‘HIV/AIDS prevention among injecting users’ (PDF).