Black girls who use marijuana engage in riskier sex, have higher STD rate
August 5th, 2008Black girls who use marijuana are more likely to engage in risky sexual acts and contract a sexually transmitted disease, a new study finds.
The study, by Emory University public health researchers, is being presented at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. It analyzed the marijuana use and self-reported sexual behavior of 439 sexually active black females between the ages of 15 and 21.
Researchers found that black girls who used marijuana had significantly higher rates of incident STDs than non-marijuana users (32 percent compared to 23 percent). Marijuana users also had more sex partners, riskier sex partners, including a partner just released from jail, and more recent episodes of engaging in vaginal sex while their partner was under the influence.
"While adolescent African-American females remain a high-risk group for STDs, little research has examined their marijuana use, sexual behaviors and incidence of STD infection," says study co-author Ralph DiClemente, PhD, Candler professor of public health at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health.
"Although no differences in condom use were identified between marijuana users and non-users, results suggest that marijuana users are engaging in sexual acts with riskier partners and under riskier circumstances, and had higher rates of STDs," DiClemente says.
DiClemente and team recommend STD and HIV intervention programs designed for adolescent black females that promote condom use as well as emphasize the risks of drug use and STD and HIV infection.
Source: Emory University
Apr 04, 2009 |
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It sounds like another attempt at turning marijuana into the bane of society. What about the effects of alcohol on partner choice?
Oddly enough people who tend to be oppressed or desire getting out of their heads every now and then live in the grey part of society.
This article is a load of 5h1t either way.
That's absurd... I've never known hundreds of people who get drunk and have regrettable sex.
Alcohol Tobacco = complacency. HMMMMMM...
Obviously this study is just one more thing to freak out white folks and typecast blacks.
I really do feel that the high incidence of STDs among black females has more to do with choosing a partner from a large pool of black men who are in and out of jail, where assumably many contract these diseases, than... what was it? Oh. Marijuana.
Laughable. I think Ralph DiClemente would serve the community much better by contributing to some meaningful research like - oh gee, I dunno! - figuring out what sorts of programs would be best received by those most in danger of STDs and HIV.
Perhaps he and his team of public health evangelists are mistaken and believe that people desire more hype rather than a real solution.
The problem, sir, is not what sort of information should be included in these programs. The problem is design.
Posters and a fish fry on Saturday afternoon at your local rec. center can't fix everything.