Differences in impulsivity and sexual risk behavior among inner-city crack/cocaine users and heroin users.
The current study utilized a sample of 123 inner-city drug users in residential treatment, comparing sexual risk behavior (SRB) across primary users of (a) heroin and not crack/cocaine, (b) crack/cocaine and not heroin, and (c) both heroin and crack/cocaine. Additional analyses also examined impulsivity as a mediator of drug choice and SRB. Results indicated that SRB was higher in primary crack/cocaine users than in primary heroin users, with those using both drugs evidencing intermediate levels of SRB. Beyond differences in SRB, a similar pattern across drugs was found for impulsivity. Finally, impulsivity mediated the relationship between drug choice and SRB. Although further research is necessary to establish causal relationships, these results support a relationship between SBR and crack/cocaine, and suggest that disinhibition processes including impulsivity may underlie this relationship.
Lejuez
C W
CW
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. clejuez@psyc.umd.edu
Bornovalova
Marina A
MA
Daughters
Stacey B
SB
Curtin
John J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D016578:Crack Cocaine