Associations between biologically confirmed marijuana use and laboratory-confirmed sexually transmitted diseases among African American adolescent females.
BACKGROUND
Numerous studies have examined the association between adolescents' marijuana use and their high-risk sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, the validity of the findings is questionable because most of the studies relied on self-reporting for measurement of marijuana use and key outcome (i.e., STDs).


OBJECTIVE
The goal was to investigate associations between biologically confirmed marijuana use and laboratory-confirmed STDs and condom use.


METHODS
African American females adolescents (n = 522) completed a self-administered survey and face-to-face interview. The adolescents provided urine and vaginal swab specimens that were analyzed for marijuana metabolites and STDs, respectively.


RESULTS
Among the study subjects, 5.4% tested positive for marijuana. These adolescents were more likely to test positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.4) and Chlamydia trachomatis (AOR = 3.9). They were more likely to have never used condoms in the previous 30 days (AOR = 2.9) and to have not used condoms consistently in the previous 6 months (AOR = 3.6).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings represent unique biologic evidence that STDs and sexual risk behavior may co-occur with marijuana use. Interventions designed to reduce adolescents' risk of STDs and HIV infection should address marijuana use.
Liau
Adrian
A
Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Diclemente
Ralph J
RJ
Wingood
Gina M
GM
Crosby
Richard A
RA
Williams
Kim M
KM
Harrington
Kathy
K
Davies
Susan L
SL
Hook
Edward W
EW
Oh
M Kim
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001741:Black or African American; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000652:urine*; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology