Lifetime marijuana use and sexually transmitted infection history in a sample of Black college students

Abstract Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and marijuana use are more prevalent in African Americans/Blacks (Blacks) than any other ethnicity in the United States. Given the significant health care costs and deleterious health correlates of using marijuana or contracting a STI, it is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Addictive behaviors 2016-09, Vol.60, p.203-208
Main Authors: Keen, Larry, Blanden, Gwenna, Rehmani, Nasreen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
African American
African Americans
African Americans - statistics & numerical data
Alcohol use
Behavior modification
College students
Comorbidity
Female
Humans
Lifetime alcohol use
Lifetime marijuana use
Male
Marijuana
Marijuana Use - epidemiology
Minority students
Prevalence
Prevention programs
Psychiatry
Risk Factors
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology
Sexually transmitted infections
STD
Students - statistics & numerical data
Universities
Virginia - epidemiology
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and marijuana use are more prevalent in African Americans/Blacks (Blacks) than any other ethnicity in the United States. Given the significant health care costs and deleterious health correlates of using marijuana or contracting a STI, it is imperative to examine their association, especially in the vulnerable and underrepresented group of young adult Blacks. Purpose The current study examines the association between lifetime marijuana use on history of STI diagnosis in a sample of Black college students. Results Approximately 81% of the 213 participants were female, with approximately 81% also being 21 years of age or younger. Alcohol (88%) led the prevalence of substances ever used, followed by marijuana (75%), and cigarettes (57%). When including demographic and substance use covariates, lifetime marijuana use (AOR = 2.51; 95% CIs, 1.01, 6.21) and age (AOR = 2.72; 95% CIs, 1.32, 5.64) were associated with history of STI. Conclusion These findings will inform intervention and prevention methods used to reduce STI prevalence and marijuana use among Black young adults. Both epidemiological and biological foundations will be discussed.
ISSN:0306-4603
1873-6327
DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.04.012