2. General Methodology

A systemic approach differs from other approaches to the scrutiny of sexuality in that it allows to establish relationships between sexologic categories. These, in turn, reveal a functional system, which, being an objectively existing system, produces the result of activity observed by the researcher. This approach proved effective in the study of factors maintaining c. As a result, a biosocial functional system controlling reproduction of human population was revealed (Zharkov Y., 1988). It has been already said that heroin addiction in Russia is estimated as an epidemic outburst. In other words, this is a biosocial process, and, in order to establish biosocial relations between sexological categories, it is quite adequate to use a systemic approach to the study of human sexuality. Here are some of these categories, which will be used in the analysis of findings obtained during examination of our patients: free love, marriage, prostitution (social categories), platonic, erotic, sexual categories (personality categories), rhythm of sexual activity, sex ratio (biological categories). The listed categories fall within the framework of systemic relations, and in order to fill them with concrete data, some special methods of examination were used.

3. Methods and Materials

All our patients were given medical examination, their addiction status was estimated, rehabilitation potential determined (Dudko T., et al., 2001), and sexologic characteristics established. Case histories included patient age, marital status, availability of sexual partner, and some other parameters. Sexologic anamnesis included information on the rhythm of sexual intercourse and addiction severity. For sake of convenience of comparative studies, a special sexology form (Vassiltchenko G., 1977) was completed. In the course of treatment and rehabilitation, the patients were examined by doctors during consultation and during their attendance of psychotherapeutic courses.

A group of 81 patients with the diagnosis of heroin addiction was given dynamic medical observation. The patients practiced intravenous injections from one to three years. The period of intravenous injections was usually preceded by a period of intranasal use of heroin, and also by use of ecstasy, marijuana, and the like. The rehabilitation potential was high or medium in these patients. The rehabilitation program commenced after abatement of the withdrawal syndrome at hospitals or in outpatient conditions. Medicines were prescribed, which included blockers of opiate receptors (for 3 √ 6 months), antidepressants and tranquilizers (3 √ 8 week courses), depending on indications. Parents or close friends (relatives) were involved in the rehabilitation program as well. Frequency of consultations and groups studies varied from two or three times a week to once a month. Consultations and group psychotherapy continued from 3 to 14 months. In some cases, after a two-month course of intense studies and consultations, contacts with patients were interrupted for 3 √ 4 months.