Race differences in longitudinal associations between adolescent personal and peer marijuana use and adulthood sexually transmitted infection risk

J Addict Dis. 2012;31(2):130-42. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2012.665691.

Abstract

To assess whether adolescent marijuana exposure represents a modifiable predictor of risk of sexually transmitted infections as adults, we used nationally representative, longitudinal data from Waves I (1994-1995, adolescence) and III (2001-2002, adulthood) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 10,738) to examine racial and gender differences in associations between adolescent marijuana use, current use, and peer use and adulthood multiple partnerships, self-reported sexually transmitted infections, and biologically confirmed sexually transmitted infections. The risk of sexually transmitted infections as adults was predicted by adolescent marijuana use in all groups except Black women and by peer marijuana use among Black men. Adolescents who use or have friends who use marijuana constitute priority populations for sexually transmitted infection prevention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Black People / statistics & numerical data*
  • Black or African American
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Marijuana Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Marijuana Smoking / ethnology
  • Peer Group
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Partners
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / ethnology
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult