A study in the April issue of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse reports that teenagers who use, or have used, crack or cocaine are at significant risk of contracting HIV. These teens report using condoms "rarely" or "never" during sex, putting then at high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

"Unprotected sex is the most common way that HIV is transmitted among teens, so if we can develop a clearer picture of why some kids engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, we will be better prepared to educate them about safe sex," says lead author Marina Tolou-Shams, PhD, of the Bradley Hasbro Childrens Research Center. [Source: Medical News Today]

The study surveyed about 280 teenagers who were participating in psychiatric programs. Dr. Toulou-Shams also believes the link between psychiatric disorders and HIV-risk behavior is important.

As a result of the study, researchers are recommending that medical professionals who treat adolescents talk to them consistently about their drug use and sexual activity, emphasizing the risks involved with both.

Labels: hiv, aids, sex, cocaine, crack

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Teens who get drunk often or who use marijuana on a regular basis are more likely to be sexually active, according to a new study from Canada. The same study also found that sexually active girls are at higher risk for attempted suicide.

• Researchers used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Children and Youth.
• They found that teens who use pot are 60 percent more likely to be sexually active.
• Teen who are regular drinkers are 50 percent more likely to be sexually active.

"Teens who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior," said Peter John Mitchell, a member of the research team. "This study reveals a risk profile that may help parents as they nurture their teens to adulthood."

Labels: teenage_drinking, teen_drug_use, marijuana, sex, teens

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Teens who were exposed to the school-based drug abuse prevention program Project Alert were less likely to engage in certain types of risky sexual behaviors than were teens who did not participate in the program.

According to an April 29 article on the ScienceDaily medical news website, researchers with the RAND Corporation reached this conclusion after surveying 1,901 unmarried 21-year-olds:

The study found that youth exposed to a drug abuse education program were significantly less likely as young adults to either engage in sex with multiple partners or to have unprotected sex because of drug and alcohol use than their peers who had not received the training.

Young adults exposed to Project ALERT were both less likely to have sex with multiple partners (44 percent versus 50 percent) and to have unprotected sex because of drug use (27 percent versus 32 percent) than their peers who had not been exposed to the program.

The effect of drug prevention education on teen sex isn't ideal, as the RAND researchers noted that about 71 percent of the study subjects reported not using condoms every time they had sex -- a percentage that was not altered by exposure to Project ALERT.

Unsafe sex is one of many dangerous behaviors that threaten the healthy development of many young people. Other dangers include drug use, alcohol abuse, tobacco use, poor school attendance, and inappropriate behaviors -- problems that some young people are unable to overcome until begin to work with therapeutic personnel who staff a teen substance abuse program.

Labels: prevention, drug use, schools, sex, teenagers

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A study that appeared in BioMed Central found that drug and alcohol use was often linked with sexual encounters. Many of those surveyed had specific sexual uses for either drugs or alcohol.

"Overall, alcohol was most likely to be used to facilitate a sexual encounter... males were more likely to use alcohol to facilitate a sexual encounter although nearly a quarter of female alcohol users also used it for the same purpose."

The study also found that young people who used drugs or alcohol in sexual encounters were far more likely to engage in risky behavior and to have multiple partners. Source: BioMed Central

Labels: sex, abuse

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