Risk factors of repeated infectious disease incidence among substance-dependent girls and boys court-referred to treatment

Abstract

Background A small portion of Americans account for a disproportionate amount of the incidences of sexually transmitted infection observed over a short period of time. Studies with adults have begun to characterize this population, yet there is very little data on adolescent sexually transmitted infection repeaters (STIR). This study explores characteristics associated with STIR among 102 girls and 93 boys (aged 14–18) court-referred for residential treatment. Methods Background characteristics, substance use disorders, risky and interpersonal behaviors, and history of sexually transmitted infections were collected at intake using valid and reliable instruments. A negative binomial logistic regression was performed to determine the background, risky behaviors, and social patterns associated with adolescent STIR. Results Approximately two out of three adolescents (62%) did not use contraception the last time they had sex, and 15% had at least one sexually transmitted infection recorded in their medical chart. Sexually transmitted infection repeaters entered treatment with higher rates of cocaine abuse (13%) than youth without multiple infections (3%, p < 0.05). History of sexual abuse, having sex with a person who said no, higher exhibitionism, and social estrangement increased the odds of adolescent STIR. Main effects of exhibitionism and social estrangement on increased odds of STIR were more pronounced for sexually abused adolescents. Conclusions The findings suggest a need for incorporating HIV education during residential treatment to improve health outcomes and intervention strategies that further connectedness for youth and victims of sexual abuse.

Low Other-Regard and Adolescent Addiction

“…There were no significant background differences between selected (N=390) and not selected (N=4142) CC-YRBS participants. As reported elsewhere (Pagano et al, 2014), rates of YRBS items endorsed by the selected normative sample were comparable to other regions.…”

“…Consistent with other research using the YRBS (Noffsinger et al, 2012), we categorized recent AOD use (0 times=no use, 1–9 times=some use, 10+ times=high use) and lifetime AOD use (0 times=no use, 1–19 times=some use, 20+ times=high use). AOD use items from the YRBS have shown high internal consistency (αs= 0.92–0.93; Pagano et al, 2014). …”

The effects of oral d-amphetamine on impulsivity in smoked and intranasal cocaine users

“…The current study is one of a few studies to examine the effects of oral AMPH in cocaine users, which is a group that remains prevalent (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013; Johnston et al, 2014; SAMHSA, 2014a), is likely to engage in other risky behaviors (e.g., Lim et al, 2011; Ropelewski et al, 2011) and for which HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are also pervasive (e.g., Hagan et al, 2011; Kuo et al, 2011; Pagano et al, 2015). Importantly, this study is the only one we are aware of that examined the effects of AMPH on a range of measures as a function of preferred route of cocaine use.…”

The Linkage of Illicit Drug Use / Alcohol Use and HIV Infection in Young Adults

“…The circumstance of social estrangement is an important situation in the lack of access and receipt of health services for substance use disorders and HIV infection (33). Socially estranged adolescents are frequently involved with the criminal justice system and are a population that has been shown to have repeated sexually transmitted diseases (34). Behaviors that place these youth at high-risk for HIV infection include binge-drinking, risky sexual encounters while intoxicated, intravenous drug use, and frequent incarceration (35)(36)(37)(38).…”