Unprotected sex as a function of alcohol and marijuana use among adolescent detainees

doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(00)00101-4

Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume 27, Issue 3, September 2000, Pages 179-185

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(00)00101-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relationship between the use of two substances (alcohol and marijuana) and the occurrence of unprotected sexual intercourse among adolescent detainees.

Methods: Participants were asked about their use of alcohol, marijuana, and condoms. In addition to comparing levels of alcohol and marijuana use, the study examined relationships among the following variables: (a) the number of days that each substance was used and the number of unprotected episodes of sexual intercourse in the 30 days preceding admission to a youth detention center; (b) the number of times that each substance was used before or during sexual intercourse and the number of unprotected episodes in the same time period; (c) the use of each substance and unprotected intercourse at the last sexual episode; and (d) intentions to use each substance in the context of sex and to have unprotected intercourse in the future. Relationships among these variables were assessed in four regression models, each of which included participants’ demographic characteristics, AIDS knowledge, attitudes toward condoms, and future orientation as covariates.

Results: Results of all four regression models indicated that marijuana use was associated with unprotected sexual intercourse. Adolescents who used more marijuana in general as well as specifically in sexual episodes in the 30 days preceding detention reported higher levels of unprotected sex. In addition, marijuana use in the last episode was related to the occurrence of unprotected sex during that episode. Moreover, intentions to use marijuana in future sexual episodes was associated with intentions to have unprotected intercourse in the future.

Conclusions: Future studies should use more rigorous research designs to clarify the nature of the relationship between marijuana use and risky sex.

Section snippets

Participants and setting

Participants were 153 adolescents (97 males, 56 females) who were recruited from two youth detention centers (YDCs) in Georgia. Their ages ranged from 12 to 17 years (M = 15.15; S/D = 1.24). The majority (n= 101; 66%) were black; all of the others were white. Although slightly more than one-half (n = 80; 52%) of the participants were sentenced to the YDC for committing multiple offenses, each one was charged with a primary offense. The two most common primary offenses were probation violation (n

Comparisons of alcohol and marijuana use

In Table 1, each type of measure showed a significantly higher level of marijuana use than alcohol use.

Global associations between substance use and unprotected sex

Table 2 presents results of the linear regression analysis that examined whether the global measures of substance use and the other study variables were associated with frequency of unprotected sex over the 30 days before admission to the YDC. As shown, all predictor variables except the respondents’ age and global use of alcohol were associated with the occurrence of unprotected sex.

Discussion

The results of this study indicated that marijuana was used more often than alcohol, both in general as well as specifically in the context of sexual intercourse. Additionally, marijuana use but not alcohol use was found to be linked to the occurrence of unprotected sex in prior and future episodes of intercourse.

Confidence in the findings regarding relationships between substance use and unprotected sex is enhanced by the inclusion of demographic, knowledge, attitudinal, and personality

Acknowledgements

This study was conducted with a grant (R01 AA11767) funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

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All 3 interventions were associated with decreased sexual risk up to 1 year later, suggesting that the intervention modality (motivational enhancement therapy) may resonate with this population beyond the specific substance use content. This single-session manualized intervention can be readily disseminated to juvenile justice settings.
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Association between cannabis use and sexual behavior among adolescents aged 12–15 years in 21 low- and middle-income countries
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This is a major concern as early sexual initiation (i.e., having sexual intercourse before the age of 15) and having multiple sexual partners are associated with higher risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and adolescent pregnancies.( Benotsch, Koester, Luckman, Martin, & Cejka, 2011; Cavazos-Rehg et al., 2011; Kingree, Braithwaite, & Woodring, 2000; Vasilenko, Kugler, & Rice, 2016) The extant literature on cannabis use and sexual behavior among adolescents is, however, limited in focusing primarily on one aspect of sexual activity (timing of sexual debut) and data are only available from high-income settings (i.e., French Guiana, USA).(
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Data from 84,867 adolescents aged 12–15 years participating in the Global School-based Student Health Survey were analyzed. Participants reported lifetime frequency of cannabis use (analyzed as 0, 1–2, 3–19 or ≥ 20 times), whether they had ever had sexual intercourse (yes/no) and, if yes, their lifetime number of sexual partners. We used multivariable logistic regression to analyze associations, adjusting for a range of relevant covariates.
12.7% of the sample reported having had sexual intercourse, and of these adolescents, 53.1% had had multiple sexual partners. The prevalence of lifetime cannabis use of 1–2 times, 3–19 times, and ≥ 20 times were 1.1%, 1.2%, and 0.4%, respectively. Those who reported using cannabis 1–2 times, 3–9 times, and ≥ 20 times had 2.32 (95%CI = 1.47–3.65), 2.34 (95%CI = 1.34–4.07), and 5.45 (95%CI = 2.22–13.40) times higher odds of having had sexual intercourse than those who had never used cannabis. Among those who had ever had sexual intercourse, the respective odds ratios (95%CIs) for having multiple sexual partners were 1.56 (0.93–2.62), 1.70 (0.92–3.14), and 5.66 (2.97–10.82). There were no significant interactions by sex for these associations.
Adolescents from LMIC who use cannabis are more likely to have ever had sexual intercourse than those who do not. Among those who have had sexual intercourse, those who use cannabis are more likely to have had multiple sexual partners.
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Although Vietnam has implemented policies aimed to reduce substance misuse among young people, this group has still consistently reported the high prevalence of substance misuse. This study was conducted to explore the perception regarding substance use and misuse among Vietnamese adolescents and youths and identify associated factors.
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A secondary analysis of data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey, was conducted (n = 7,664). Exposure of interest was age of initiation of cannabis use (never used cannabis, age 12 or younger, 13–14 years of age, and age 15 or older) and outcome was ESI (14 years old or younger). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals were computed.
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Original articlesUnprotected sex as a function of alcohol and marijuana use among adolescent detainees

Abstract

Section snippets

Participants and setting

Comparisons of alcohol and marijuana use

Global associations between substance use and unprotected sex

Discussion

Acknowledgements

J Adolesc Health

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry

The Hidden EpidemicConfronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Substance use and risky sexual behavior for exposure to HIVissues in methodology, interpretation, and prevention

Am Psychol

Research methods in psychology

The theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior

Social psychological influences on HIV risk behavior among African-American youth

Beliefs about substance use among pregnant and parenting adolescents

J Res Adolesc

Drug Use in Metropolitan American

Original articles
Unprotected sex as a function of alcohol and marijuana use among adolescent detainees